asked the Minister for the Marine the areas he has designated under the Fisheries Act, 1980 for aquaculture development; the number of operators he has licensed within those areas; and the progress that is being made with a view to the designation of additional areas for aquaculture development.

A total of 16 areas have been designated to date under the Fisheries Act, 1980, for aquaculture development; these are indicated in a schedule which I will circulate in the Official Report.

As I indicated in a reply to the Dáil on 8 November last, my Department have at present 660 applications for marine fish farms on hands for the whole State. Many of these projects have been authorised by fish culture licences from the former Fisheries Department, draft foreshore licences by the former Communications Department as well as by the aquaculture licences issued by my Department. I do not have a breakdown to hand. Public inquiries have been held in respect of four additional areas but it has not been possible to designate any of these yet.

My Department have drawn up a programme of new designations involving approximately 15 areas in Counties Cork, Wexford, Donegal, Waterford and Sligo. Nine of these areas have been formally notified by advertisement in national and local newspapers and I am considering at present whether the response in each case indicates a public inquiry.

Note for Information

Position Regarding Designation as at 25/11/88

1. Areas which have been designated:

(*) Subject to a High Court Appeal, Order not yet in force, therefore.

2. Areas where a decision has been taken not to designate:

(†) Minister to proceed with partial designation.

3. Areas still under consideration:

4. Areas where the designation procedure has recently commenced:

Notices have been published in the local papers announcing that the Minister is now considering designating these areas.

5. Areas where the designation procedure is about to commence:

If the state of play at present is at such an infantile stage and if positive progress is not taking place in this area, how do the Minister and his Department envisage the creation of massive employment in this area between now and 1991, as was outlined by the Minister for the Marine at the launch of the BIM fisheries plan?

I think the Deputy will appreciate that if we advance as rapidly during the next few years as we have done during the past few years we will achieve this. Prior to this, licences for foreshore aquaculture had to be issued by the Department of Communications. This was a very cumbersome method of issuing the licences. Even though it took some time, this method is now more streamlined and I can assure the Deputy that there will be no delay in issuing licences. However, we must respect the fears of those people who object to the issuing of these licences. We must take these into consideration and if the Minister thinks it necessary then a public inquiry will be held. I can assure the Deputy that we will try to ensure that the applications are dealt with expeditiously and that decisions are taken as quickly as possible. If there are objections after the Minister designates an area there will be a further 28 days during which objections can be raised and heard before the High Court.