The legislation is being developed and is at an early stage. It is extremely comprehensive. The original legislation dates from 1933. The Department is dealing with quite a number of outstanding issues. That is not in the main body of our current work but I hope we can give it priority in the new year. A foreshore licence can only be issued if it is in the public interest.
The current processing of a foreshore application includes the assessment of the application by the Department's internal technical advisers and, where necessary, the marine licence vetting committee which advises on scientific matters; consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees, including the relevant Departments and agencies; a period of public consultation, which is normally 21 days; valuation of the site to be occupied by the applicant and other public interest elements which may arise in particular cases; obtaining the necessary legal advice; and Department of Finance sanction, where appropriate.
I can give the Deputy some idea of the number of foreshore cases we have inherited from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. There are 700 foreshore cases following the transfer of functions and full caseload analysis was undertaken to determine the status of the cases.
The position is as follows. There are 300 live cases at various stages in the consent process — they are being progressed — of which 30 of them are strategy cases — priority one. There are 200 cases which are not active and to be closed off. There are 180 offshore renewable energy applications which will be considered in the context of the finalised offshore renewable energy plan and there are 82 enforcement-legal cases. There is a scheme of priorities — priority one, priority two and priority three — which the Department has developed.
The level of caseload in the Department is as follows. Since the functions transferred to my Department earlier this year more than 26 foreshore applications have been determined, 14 of these cases were determined in less than 20 weeks, another 300 cases are being progressed through the various stages of the consent process and 15 cases are close to determination.