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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 6

Written Answers. - Aquaculture-Mariculture Development Licences.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

38 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine when his Department will issue licences for acquaculture and mariculture development in Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay and Roaring Water Bay, County Cork, in view of the fact that these applications were submitted to his Department over 10 years ago. [2645/94]

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

46 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the reason it takes so long to process applications for licences to operate fish farming and aquaculture in general; if there is sufficient staff within his Department to deal with applications in relation to what is a rapidly growing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2647/94]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 46 together.

The policy objective with regard to the licensing of aquaculture and mariculture development is to ensure that such developments take place in an orderly and well regulated manner, with full respect for other interests and in harmony with the environment while maximising the industry's contribution to the economy, in terms of jobs and revenue.
All applications for licences to engage in fish farming are subject to comprehensive evaluation by the Department's Aquaculture Licence Vetting Committee, a multidisciplinary advisory body, which brings together all relevant expertise from within the Department and from the Central Fisheries Board. Applications are assessed from all technical, scientific and other relevant perspectives to determine the suitability of proposals. This evaluation is further informed by public consultative procedures which are fully comprehensive.
The timescale, and the outcome, of the decision making process in individual cases inevitably varies depending on the technical considerations and particular local circumstances involved.
In recent years there has been a significant increase in mussel cultivation in Bantry Bay. Some 30 applications for licensing are outstanding. The Department is most anxious to finalise the licensing of the mussel industry in Bantry.
For navigational safety reasons among others it is necessary to confine aquaculture development to certain well defined areas within Bantry Bay. However the Department's efforts to date to regularise mussel culture in the bay have been hampered by unresolved difficulties at local level and the absence of a local consensus.
At my direction, senior technical staff of the Department met in Bantry earlier this week with representatives of the local mussel farming co-operative and other local interests with a view to getting consensus on the areas to be considered for licensing for aquaculture purposes in Bantry Bay.
The Department will continue to work with the Bantry mussel farmers and other local interest to finalise these matters.
The Department is processing a large number of applicants for Dunmanus Bay and Roaringwater Bay. These applications still have to undergo the evaluation process to which all aquaculture licensing proposals are subject.
A significant number of applications for shellfish cultivation in both of these bays have been recently cleared for advertising by the Aquaculture Licensing Vetting Committee. The applicants in question are being notified by the Department and arrangements are being agreed for publication of the proposals in the press at the earliest date.
The very positive contribution of aquaculture to jobs and exports has been fully recognised under the National Development Plan. Investment under the plan has the potential to generate significant new jobs directly in the sector over the period. Jobs will also be created in the added value processing and marketing sectors.
Reflecting the continued growth potential of aquaculture, particularly shellfish cultivation, a substantial number of applications (including those for the bays I have already mentioned) are with the Department. Every effort is being made to expedite the assesementevaluation processes and bring licensing applications to finality.
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