Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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451. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a copy of the report on carrying capacity for Kilmakilloge harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22106/18]

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. 

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.

Once the BIM report is finalised it will be included in documentation released to statutory consultees and the general public in accordance with the legislative provisions governing statutory and public consultation. Accordingly it would not be appropriate to release the information in question except in accordance with the requirements of legislation. This is to ensure fairness in procedures and allows for members of the public to have the same access and view the documentation in question at the same time during the public consultation phase.

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.