Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an aquaculture foreshore license application (details supplied) on Lough Swilly; when a final decision will be made on this license application; if every effort is being made to progress the application through the stages by the various State agencies, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and others speedily to have it in place for the new season in September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26366/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department considers all applications for Aquaculture and Foreshore Licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable National and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors, as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.

The time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. My Department also takes full account of all scientific and technical advice, in addition to all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases. Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment and whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period, etc.

Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all scientific, legislative, technical and public interest elements of each application.

The aquaculture and foreshore licence application referred to by the Deputy was updated on the Departments AquaMIS on the 31st of May, has completed the GIS mapping stage and is now for review by the Departments local engineer. The applicant will be contacted by the Department once this report is received.