Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
473. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the awareness of his Department of the ongoing assessment for oyster trestles along the Quay Shore, Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, and the plans to potentially cultivate oysters in Lough Swilly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42223/23]
View answerMy Department considers applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all scientific, legislative, technical and public interest elements of each application, including issues identified during the statutory and public consultation phase.
It is open to any person to apply for an aquaculture licence and there are a number of licensed aquaculture sites already in Lough Swilly. There are also a number of applications which are being processed. In relation to the area of Quay Shore referred to by the Deputy, my Department has received aquaculture and foreshore applications for a new site in this area. This application is in the initial assessment phase as part of which my Department has organised for an Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessment to be undertaken. I am advised that this assessment is ongoing at present.
Once an application has been accepted and passed through the initial assessment process the legislation provides for a period of public consultation. This will be commenced by the applicant placing a notice in a locally circulating newspaper and the application documentation will also be available for viewing on the Department's website and a local Garda Station at this time. The newspaper notice will give all relevant information and at this time any interested party may make a submission on the application as set out in the notice.
Details of all licensed sites are publicly available on the Departments' section of the www.gov.ie website and on the Aquaculture Information Management System (AQUAMIS).
