(Limerick West): I propose to take Priority Question No. 3 and Oral Question No. 44 together.
My Department have on hands approximately 600 expressions of interest in relation to mariculture undertakings. The processing of these, some of which would be of a very tentative nature, is at various stages. The regional distribution of these applications is very broadly as follows: east 40, south east 35, south 150, south west 100, west 100, north west 150, and central 25.
As Deputies will be aware, the process involved in the assessment of and final decision making on licence applications is rigourous and can take some time to complete. Applications are assessed from the various technical perspectives by the relevant experts in my Department. In the case of signficant finfish projects, this process includes assessment of the environmental impact statement which promoters are statutorily obliged to submit and to make available to interested parties. In addition, consultation takes place with relevant interested parties, including, among others, local authorities, fisheries boards, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. All objections made are thoroughly investigated. Applications are then submitted for my consideration.
This is a time consuming process which places a high demand on scarce administrative and technical resources. The Government's environment action programme which announced allocation to my Department of £200,000 in 1990 for additional staff and resources has as its objective the bringing of all projects fully within the licensing and control regime at the latest by the end of 1991.
I would note that in the past a number of projects went ahead on an informal basis in advance of formal licensing procedures being completed. I have now instructed that this practice be discontinued, and officials of my Department will be pressing ahead with the task of licensing existing operations as soon as possible as well as coming to grips with most existing applications and any new ones which may come to hand.