Vol. 453 No. 7
107 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine when an application for an oyster cultivation licence will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10010/95]
The person in question applied to the Department in November 1993 for licences to engage in oyster growing in Dungarvan Bay. Applications for licensing for any particular area are dealt with on a chronological basis and a large number of licensing applications from other persons had preceded this application. A total of some 37 individual oyster growing development projects for an area comprising some 300 hectares have been licensed to date at locations in southern Dungarvan Bay, in consultation and agreement with Waterford County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A small area of foreshore remains to be allocated and this is presently the subject of an application from an existing licensed operator.
Applications for licences to engage in shellfish farming are subject to evaluation by the Aquaculture Licence Vetting Committee, a multidisciplinary advisory body, which brings together relevant expertise from within the Department of the Marine 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 process is further informed by a public consultation process.
In the circumstances, it is unlikely that the licensing application from the person concerned can be facilitated. The Department will notify all outstanding applicants as to the position as soon as the licensing process has been brought to finality, in relation to the remaining small area of foreshore available for allocation.
