Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1839. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licence appeals that are on hand for over one year by the Aquaculture Licences Appeal Board; the number on hand for more than three years; if he intends to review the operation of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in view of the inordinate time that it is taking the board to make decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1366/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) was established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 (as amended). ALAB is a single function body tasked with the provision of an independent service for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications.

There are currently 37 active appeals against decisions of the Minister, three of which have been received within the last year. The remaining 34 appeals relate to three locations and were received slightly over three years ago.

The staffing resources provided by the Department to ALAB have increased significantly in recent years. The appointment of a permanent technical advisor in 2020 has resulted in significantly improved productivity while the appointment of an Assistant Principal in 2021 has allowed ALAB to give further consideration to strategic issues such as the improvement of its IT systems. While two Board members retired in December, I am moving expeditiously to replace them so as to ensure a full complement of seven members.