Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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736. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the numbers of fishery officers employed by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (permanent and temporary contracts) for each of the years 2012 to 2025, in tabular form. [25595/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational issues concerning sea-fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in such operational matters, including those in relation to law enforcement.

The Deputy's query in relation to staffing resources relate to operational matters. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's request to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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737. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he and his officials deem the operation of the Cong Salmon Hatchery on Lough Corrib SAC in County Galway by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), is legally compliant with national and EU legislation considering that no Appropriate Assessment or Nature Impact Statement has been conducted on its activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25690/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department considers applications for aquaculture 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 involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. In addition, the legislation governing aquaculture licensing provides for an appeals mechanism. Decisions in respect of aquaculture licences are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.

The licence referred to by the Deputy was issued on 7th December 2017, following the licensing procedures in place at that time. The Determination to grant a licence noted that the site was not located within a Special Area of Conservation. My Department’s records indicate that during that process, full public and statutory consultations were carried out and no objections to the application were received. No appeals were lodged at the time in respect of the decision to grant the licence. The site has been inspected by engineers from my Department on a regular basis since the licence was granted and no compliance issues have been raised during these inspections.

The licence in question is valid for a ten year period and is due for renewal in 2027. As part of the renewal process, the application will be subject to full environmental screening, including Appropriate Assessment screening in line with the current licensing process.