John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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697. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a foreshore licence application (details supplied) submitted in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34356/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department has responsibility for foreshore licensing functions in respect of designated fishery harbour centres, activities wholly or primarily for the use, development or support of aquaculture, and activities which are wholly or primarily for the use, development, or support of wild fisheries.

Applications for foreshore licences are considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well various consultees and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, which is a statutory requirement.

As the Competent Authority for the foreshore licensing functions set out above, my Department is responsible for assessing the potential adverse effects of foreshore licence applications (in combination with other plans or projects) on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. As part of this process all applications for foreshore licences are screened to determine if a full Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is required. In addition, applications are screened to determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment Report is required.

The environmental screening process in respect of the application referred to by the Deputy is currently underway. Once this process has been completed my Department will be in contact with the applicant regarding the next stage of the licensing process. As this application is currently under consideration as part of a statutory process it would not be appropriate to comment further on it at this time.