Consultation on Proposals to Amend Marine Licensing Fees

Consultation opened on 09 July 2024. Closing date 03 September 2024.

Summary

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published a consultation document which is seeking views on proposals to amend marine licensing fees. We encourage participation from all interested parties. The primary method for responses is online via Citizen Space.

Documents

Consultation description

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is pleased to present this consultation and looks forward to hearing your views. The aim of the consultation is  to ensure that DAERA delivers a more effective marine licensing system which complies with the requirements of “Managing Public Money NI”. 

DAERA is the appropriate licensing authority for the Northern Ireland inshore region (0-12 nautical miles) as set out at section 113(6)(b) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The consultation seeks views on two sets of proposals, these are:-

  • proposals to amend the current fees for determining applications for marine licences. The objective of this is to increase the Department’s cost recovery rate in short term; and
  • proposals to increase the range of marine licensing services for which the Department can recover its costs, such as:- the provision of pre-application advice or other assistance, monitoring  compliance with licensing conditions, variation, suspension, revocation, or transfer of a licence. This will  involve amending the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) most likely via an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

DAERA is also seeking views on a draft Equality and Disability Screening, draft Rural Needs Assessment and draft Regulatory Impact Assessment which have been prepared in respect of the proposed amendments to marine licensing fees.

This consultation is likely to be of interest to businesses, operators, clubs/associations and individuals, conservation bodies and environmental groups that have an interest in the authorisation of activities which can impact on the marine environment, navigational safety, and human health.

Audience :                                    

This consultation is open to any organisation or individual, but will be of particular interest to: to businesses, operators, clubs/associations. individuals, conservation bodies and environmental groups that have an interest in the authorisation of activities which can impact on the marine environment, navigational safety, and human health.

DAERA recognises the need to keep people informed and to give people the opportunity to comment on our policy proposals. The consultation invites people to answer a number of questions on proposals to increase marine licensing fees in line with the requirements of “Managing Public Money NI” in order to deliver a more effective marine licensing system.

Consultation Workshop

DAERA will host a consultation workshop details of which will be available from the DAERA website.

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