Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
477. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the bays in County Kerry that are awaiting aquaculture licences; the status of each of these applications; and when is the approval for licences envisaged for each application. [41951/12]
View answer478. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licences for commercial processing of sea-food produce have been applied for in County Kerry; the number that have been approved; the number of applicants awaiting approval as each license granted has the potential to create up to 20 jobs; if he will expedite the processing of these applications [41955/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together.
The number of aquaculture licence applications awaiting decision in respect of sites in County Kerry is 75. The vast majority to these sites are located in areas designated as ‘Natura 2000’ sites. All such sites are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Habitats/Birds Directives before licensing decisions can be made. The average timeframe for processing licence applications varies depending on location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites, potential visual impact etc. Other factors include consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period.
My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is engaged in a comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of ‘Natura 2000’ areas. This data collection programme is substantially complete. Analysis of the data, together with the setting of appropriate conservation objectives by the NPWS, will enable all new, renewal and review applications to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. This work represents a significant financial, administrative and scientific investment by the State in resolving this issue. The Appropriate Assessment of aquaculture applications is being dealt with on a bay-by-bay basis. A comprehensive programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives for Natura sites is ongoing and significant progress has been made.
In this regard the appropriate assessment process for Castlemaine has been completed and my Department expects to be in a position to proceed to the public consultation phase very shortly.
