Vol. 482 No. 7
5 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to license and outline the plots of each applicant for mussel farming in Bantry Bay, County Cork; and the number of applicants who have applied in this regard. [19196/97]
Thirteen mussel farm operations have been offered licences in respect of 50 discrete sites spanning some 240 hectares in inner Bantry Bay. Subject to some difficulties with two of the sites totalling eight hectares, these offers have been substantially accepted and it is the intention that formal licence documents will issue to these parties very shortly.
Considerable departmental resources have been devoted over a number of years to achieving local consensus on the organisation and licensing of sites within inner Bantry Bay with particular emphasis on ensuring that navigational safety concerns are addressed. All applications for these sites underwent a full public consultative process including consultation with the appropriate State agencies. The licence offers have been fully informed by the outcome of this comprehensive process.
Four additional applications are on hands for mussel cultivation beyond the inner harbour. Three of these applications have already been the subject of public notice through the local press and will be processed to finality under the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, which will be commenced shortly.
Mussel farming in Bantry Bay has been a significant success story in terms of revenue, jobs and exports generated for the area. In 1996 the value of mussel product from Bantry was around £6 million and the local mussel farming and processing section gives full and part-time employment to nearly 500 people in the region. I am committed to ensuring that the mussel operations in Bantry Bay are regulated and managed in line with the highest standards and with the necessary local consensus among the operators themselves, in the interests of this important industry.
I am pleased to hear that 50 sites will be licensed in the near future. How soon will that be? Is the Minister aware of the concern of a tourism association in the Glengariff area in respect of the approach to the Glengariff area for liners? Can the Minister assure the House that everything is in order in that regard? Will mussel lines be lighted at night with a view to preventing collisions, and will the regulations relating to the licensing of plots be put into operation as soon as possible?
In regard to the first part of the Deputy's question, I expect documents to be issued before the end of the year.
In regard to the approach to Glengariff, I appreciate the beauty and tourism value of Glengariff — I spent my honeymoon there some years ago and have some lovely pictures of the area. These factors have been taken into account.
The Minister indicated the potential of mussel farming and aquaculture in general. Deputy Sheehan's question related specifically to Bantry Bay, but is the Minister addressing the many other applications from around the country for mussel farming and aquacultural activities, particularly from Donegal, in respect of which applications were submitted years ago? Is the Department complying with an Act for which my colleague, Deputy Gilmore, was responsible under which decisions are required to be made within four months? Will those who have sent in applications get an early response so that they will know where they stand?
A great deal of time has been spent in making the arrangements for implementing the Act to which the Deputy refers, and the preparations for the commencement of the Act are proceeding as a top priority in the Department. I expect to be in a position to make the required commencement order shortly.
I am pleased the Minister will sign the commencement order shortly. How many applications have been made for aquaculture licences and how long will it take the Department to process them?
I join with Deputy Finucane in welcoming the Minister's announcement that the commencement order will be signed shortly. Is the Minister satisfied that the provision of £100,000 in yesterday's Estimates will be sufficient to enable him to implement the new legislation given the number of outstanding applications and the requirement under it to have licence applications decided within a specified period?
Yes, but there are constraints in the public service on staffing currently. The difficulty arises because the measures to implement the Act at the same time as the development and introduction of the licences have created extra pressure on that section but this work is almost complete.
The timeframe for the licences relates just to Bantry Bay. I do not have any information on the other licences. I note the Deputy's point and it is my objective to speed up the granting of the licences. The implementation of the Act will also mean that there will be an appeals systems so the process should move much more smoothly.
