Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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432. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for bringing in new operators (details supplied) in Kilmakilloge Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17414/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Applications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation. The licensing process includes a period of Statutory and general public consultation in respect of applications, and licensing decisions are made following the fullest consideration of all aspects of each application including environmental, technical and public interest aspects.

The licensing process also provides for an appeals mechanism in respect of Ministerial decisions via the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board which is an independent body established by Statute for the specific purpose of considering such appeals.

In order to facilitate the aquaculture licensing process in Kilmakilloge Harbour my Department requested BIM to conduct a Carrying Capacity Study of the area. BIM has recently submitted to my Department a ‘Working Draft’ of the study report. This is not BIM’s final draft of the study report and it is expected that, in the normal way, further drafts will be generated in the course of ongoing communications and discussions with my Department.

In the meantime, as licence applications, including renewals, are under formal consideration by my Department as part of a Statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.