422. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current and capital annual budget allocated to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board for 2025 and 2026; the baseline financial allocation required to increase this budget by 10% and 15% respectively, to assist with operational capacity, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46411/26]

The Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) is an independent appeals body established under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.

The purpose of ALAB is to provide an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications.

The budget allocated by my Department to Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in 2025 was €800,000 and the allocation for 2026 is €1,800,000.