Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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524. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons his Department has written to regarding unauthorised aquaculture activities in Ballyness Bay, County Donegal since 2010; the dates of correspondence; and the name of the recipients if appropriate. [52932/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The specific information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will require a detailed examination of my Department’s records. 

A full reply, to the extent appropriate, will issue to the Deputy by my Department as soon as possible.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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525. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken to ensure that all unauthorised aquaculture activities in Ballyness Bay, County Donegal ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52933/19]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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526. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps taken to ensure that infrastructure relating to unauthorised aquaculture activities in Ballyness Bay, County Donegal was removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52934/19]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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527. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date his Department was satisfied that all unauthorised aquaculture activities in Ballyness Bay, County Donegal were no longer taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52935/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 to 527, inclusive, together.

The activity of aquaculture on State foreshore requires an aquaculture licence and a foreshore licence in respect of the area occupied.

My Department is aware of previous unauthorised aquaculture activity in Ballyness Bay.  Following inspections by my Department’s Marine Engineering Division, contact was made with the relevant operators where identification was possible.  Following these actions by my Department, the unauthorised activity was discontinued.

However, I have requested my Department’s Marine Engineering Division to carry out an inspection of the Bay and to submit a report to the Aquaculture Licensing Division of my Department.