632. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider dividing Castlemaine Harbour for the purposes of the appropriate assessment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53674/26]

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. The 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.

As the Competent Authority for aquaculture licencing, my Department is responsible for ensuring all applications are appropriately assessed in the context of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The Marine Institute (MI), as my Department’s scientific advisor, is requested to undertake appropriate assessments.

Appropriate Assessments for marine based extensive aquaculture applications, which includes shellfish and aquatic plants, are undertaken at a bay wide level. In the case of Castlemaine Harbour, the Appropriate Assessment process is already well underway, with the Appropriate Assessment Screening and Annex IV Risk Assessment for 74 applications receiving Ministerial determination in December 2025.

The Marine Institute is currently preparing a Natura Impact Statement which will be published as part of the future public and statutory consultation on these applications.