Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application for an aquaculture licence by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10696/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has received new and renewal aquaculture applications from the person referred to by the Deputy. These applications are in respect of sites located within the Slyne Head Peninsula Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Slyne Head Peninsula has been designated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. All applications in such areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

An Appropriate Assessment report has now been completed by the Marine Institute in respect of Slyne Head.  My Department is currently examining the general licensing issues that arise for consideration as a result of the Appropriate Assessment report.

While the Appropriate Assessment is carried out on a bay-wide basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually.  Factors to be considered include location within the bay, species, scale and intensity of production, potential visual impact, etc.  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.

Every effort is being made to expedite the determination of aquaculture licence applications in this bay having regard to all the complexities involved.