2524. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used by his Department to determine when an appropriate assessment (AA) is required in respect of aquaculture licence applications and renewals; the period for which an appropriate assessment is considered valid for licensing purposes; whether a new appropriate assessment is required for every individual aquaculture licence application or renewal; the circumstances in which an existing appropriate assessment may be relied upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56053/26]

2525. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has considered adopting a scheduled, continuous, bay-by-bay programme of appropriate assessments for aquaculture sites, rather than undertaking assessments in response to individual licence applications; whether such an approach has been evaluated in terms of improving licensing efficiency and reducing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56054/26]

2526. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether renewed aquaculture licences are deemed to commence from the date on which the renewal is determined by his Department or from the date on which the previous licence expired; whether this policy applies uniformly across all aquaculture licence renewals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56055/26]

2528. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has established annual targets or key performance indicators for the determination of aquaculture licence applications and renewals; if so, the details of those targets; the number of successful licence determinations his Department would regard as representing satisfactory annual performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56057/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2524, 2525, 2526 and 2528 together.

My Department considers applications for aquaculture and foreshore licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 as amended, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process 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.

As the Competent Authority for aquaculture licencing, my Department is responsible for ensuring all applications are appropriately assessed in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. The Marine Institute (MI), as my Department’s scientific advisor, is requested to undertake these Appropriate Assessments (AA). My Department has also engaged the services of external environmental consultants to assist with the high volume of applications on hand that require appropriate assessment.

While AAs for marine based extensive aquaculture applications, which includes shellfish and aquatic plants, are already undertaken at a bay wide level, it is important to note that any Appropriate Assessment is specific to the aquaculture licence applications listed within it. AA determinations are then made on each of these individual applications. Efficiencies are gained by using this bay wide approach, where relevant information is usable across all relevant applications made in that bay, at that time.

Timelines for processing aquaculture licences vary depending on a number of factors, including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for a Stage 2 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 and consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period. As a result, it is not possible to provide a definitive timeline as to when licence applications will be determined.

Aquaculture licences, where granted, are issued for a period of 10 years following the date of Ministerial determination of the application, and of any Foreshore Licence application if applicable.

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.