Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2013
184. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite the processing of applications for aquaculture licences in Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these delays are hindering investment in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24822/13]
View answerCastlemaine Harbour is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). 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, has been engaged in a major programme of data collection, Conservation Objective setting and the carrying out of an Appropriate Assessment in respect of Castlemaine Harbour SAC and SPA. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as a result of the above process I have made the first aquaculture licence decisions in respect of 28 aquaculture sites in Castlemaine Harbour and these determinations have been published (The Kerryman 8 May 2013). Subsequently, I have made Ministerial decisions in respect of 14 other sites and these will be published shortly.
