Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location or bays in County Donegal where appropriate assessments have been carried out in respect of special areas of conservation and the habitats directives; the location by bay, inlet or shore area in such cases as they have been completed as part of the screening process and lodged with his Department; the commencement and expiry dates and species type of shellfish aquaculture licences currently in force in County Donegal; the location by bay, inlet or shore area and species type of shellfish aquaculture licence applications currently under consideration by his Department in County Donegal; if each application under consideration by public bodies as co-ordinated by the aquaculture and foreshore division of his Department is open for consultation to the public, awaiting determination by him, granted but within the appeal period, or granted where the appeal period has expired; the current status of shellfish licence applications in the vicinity of Cruit and Kincasslagh, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29530/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The very detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in full. Provision of the information sought will require an extensive examination of my Department’s records. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy within two weeks.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an environmental impact assessment is not required for shellfish farming aquaculture licence approval within a special area of conservation, SAC, when it is required for approval of a fin fish farming licence within an SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29531/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 236/1998 Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, as amended, Environmental Impact Statements are mandatory in respect of finfish cultivation in the marine environment. Certain exceptions apply for trial or research purposes.

In the case of shellfish cultivation an Environmental Impact Statement is required if the Minister considers that the proposed aquaculture is likely to have significant effects on the environment. To facilitate this, a Screening Group of Officials from the Department, the Marine Institute and BIM is convened for the purpose of screening shellfish aquaculture licence applications.

Ministerial decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are made following consideration of all the relevant information, including, but not limited to, the recommendations of the Screening Group.