asked the Minister for Communications whether he is aware of the vast potential for aquaculture in Mulroy Bay, County Donegal; and whether he is aware that development so far has brought little except strained relations and bad feeling amongst the people around the bay, and that this in part is due to his Department's issuing licences without statutory and regulatory procedures being followed.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Aquaculture.
484.
The potential for the development of Mulroy Bay has been recognised and the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry has decided to hold a public inquiry into the possible designation of Mulroy Bay as an area suitable for fish farming subject to licence.
I am empowered under the provisions of the Foreshore Act, 1933, to grant licences to any person who proposes to erect structures on the foreshore. In all cases where foreshore licences have been offered the statutory and regulatory procedures have been followed. I might mention that foreshore licences in respect of fish farming projects are granted only to those applicants to whom the Department of Fisheries and Forestry are prepared to issue the appropriate fish culture licence.