Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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578. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if licences will be renewed for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16123/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The application referred to by the Deputy is on behalf of Sneem Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Ltd (which includes the individuals identified by the Deputy).

The relevant sites are located within Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site).

All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and/or Habitats Directives.  An Appropriate Assessment has been carried out by the Marine Institute in respect of Kenmare Bay Special Area of Conservation.  My Department has prepared an Appropriate Assessment Conclusion Statement which outlines how it is proposed to licence aquaculture in Kenmare Bay Special Area of Conservation in compliance with the Habitats Directive.  This Conclusion Statement is available on the Department’s website.

In addition to Natura requirements, under EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directives all licence applications must undergo an Environmental Impact Screening Assessment.  This requires significant input from my Department’s scientific and technical advisors.  All applications, in compliance with the requirements of the applicable legislation, are advertised in order to facilitate public consultation, and submissions or observations received must be considered as part of the licence determination process.

While the Appropriate Assessment is carried out on a bay-wide basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually.  Every effort is being made to expedite the determination of this aquaculture licence application having regard to all the complexities involved.