655. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licenses processed in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49390/26]

656. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licenses processed during the past five years and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49391/26]

657. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licenses are awaiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49392/26]

670. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licenses that were processed in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49547/26]

671. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licenses waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49549/26]

672. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to address the large backlog in the processing of aquaculture licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49550/26]

673. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline that is acceptable for the processing of aquaculture licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49551/26]

674. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason it is taking up to 20 years and longer to process aquaculture licenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49552/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 655, 656, 657, 670, 671, 672, 673 and 674 together.

My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.

The time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. My Department also takes full account of all scientific and technical advice, in addition to all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases.

Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment and whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period, etc. Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.

Since 2012, when AAs started to become available under the agreed Road map with the EU Commission, determinations have made in respect over 1300 licence applications. There are a number of long-standing applications where significant issues have arisen and the Department continues to work closely with the relevant applicants and our scientific and technical advisors with a view to finding solutions and progressing these applications. At present, there are 580 applications being processed, with the majority of these having been submitted since 2021.

My Department has allocated funding under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to enable the Marine Institute to recruit two additional technical experts to focus solely on the completion of Appropriate Assessments for Aquaculture Licensing. These additional resources are now in place and are working full time on Aquaculture licensing. Additionally, my Department has engaged the services of an external environmental consultant to assist with clearing the current back log of Appropriate Assessments, as appropriate.

The number of aquaculture licence determinations made by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date (new and renewals) are provided in the table below. Every effort is being made by my Department to expedite the determination of all outstanding applications having regard to the complexities of each case and the need to fully comply with all relevant national and EU legislation.