Michael Finucane
Question:19 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine the average period involved in obtaining an aquaculture licence and the average duration of a foreshore licence granted in association with an acquaculture licence.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Aquaculture Licences.
The concept of the average period taken to process an aquaculture licence application or obtain an aquaculture licence is not particularly meaningful given the variations in licence types and the nature of the legal process involved. For example, technical assessment, consultation with relevant interests such as local authorities, local communities, fisheries boards and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the commissioning of environmental impact studies and assessment of those studies in the light of public comments thereon, all form part of the procedure. This is a time consuming process with no guarantee as to outcome.
Aquaculture licences, and foreshore licences issued in association with them are usually of ten years' duration.
I appreciate what the Minister says about caution because of the type of publicity that aquaculture has been getting in recent times, but hopefully the Marine Institute will resolve that. Nevertheless, the Minister must be aware that in the aquaculture industry there is grave concern about the extensive delays in receiving these licences. Would the Minister not agree that because of cutbacks the Department of the Marine have run in an opposite direction to the one that was anticipated for the aquaculture industry when, according to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara plan, and the National Development Plan it was supposed to feature as an expansionist industry?
I agree that it forms a central and important part of the Bord Iascaigh Mhara plan. What I do not accept is that there has been any change in the objectives or the targets in that plan, however ambitious they may have been. There is a question later on on this matter. I and my Department are committed to the development of aquaculture particularly in areas where no other industry is likely to set up, where there is no other source of employment, for example, in quite inaccessible areas, and where all environmental factors are taken into account and where the planning will carry obligations on the developers with regard to environmental protection.
Would the Minister agree that there may be a difficulty in meeting the expansion plans as outlined in the national development plan because of the delays?
I agree that there is a difficulty.