Mr. Michael Keatinge:

On that matter it is worth noting that almost half the entire budget is allocated to Spain. Ireland gets less than 3%, which is a very small amount.

I echo Deputy McNamara’s point. We need perhaps to ask ourselves how best to use this money. I was proud to serve on the Leader committee for the islands’ Leader group, Comhar na nOileán. We share the Deputy’s concern that we can end up with several projects but ultimately wonder what they amount to. Going into the new European maritime fisheries fund, we must encourage a real conversation with coastal communities, asking what we are about and what we are trying to achieve.

Whether the budget is €1 million or €100 million what counts is how it is spent. I would be the first to say we have not always got the best projects. That is not a criticism of local entrepreneurship in coastal areas but perhaps we need to have a new conversation about how we spend whatever money we are given, and I appreciate that ours is one among many agencies the Government has to fund. It is more important to find the best way to spend that money. I accept that has not always been the case but there have been some wonderful projects.

Turning to aquaculture, my colleague, Donal Maguire, can answer some of the specific questions. The Galway Bay project is the subject of a licence application that is now with the Minister, awaiting a decision. While I am happy to talk about aquaculture generally I want to be careful not to say anything that might reflect on the Minister’s decision process. That might be inappropriate for me. It is important that we discuss the wider issue of aquaculture and where it is going. I believe aquaculture can provide new opportunities in coastal areas. It is my understanding that all the processing for finfish farming is done locally in Ireland. My colleague, Donal Maguire, can confirm that.