Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Flaherty for allowing me to take his speaking spot. He said that Longford was not a fishing stronghold yet. With rising sea levels that might change, but hopefully not. It is interesting that Cork and Donegal are well represented in the committee room today. It says a lot. I want to say to the Minister at the outset, that there was a very welcome announcement today regarding the BAR funding for marine infrastructure around the coast. I am delighted to say that County Cork received more than €6 million in funding for marine infrastructure. There are some very welcome projects there. Some had already been indicated for funding under BAR, such as Cunnamore pier and Laheratanvally, to the west.

Some have new projects that have received funding, such as Schull pier. Courtmacsherry, which is close to where I live, is to receive funding for a new pontoon, which is very welcome and much needed. We have always emphasised the potential of the coastal area of Cork both from a fishing and a marine leisure perspective. This will allow it to realise that potential. I would like to see further funding. Many of these projects would have been shovel ready but there are many improvement works that need to be carried out on piers throughout west Cork that are not shovel ready and may require foreshore licences. I would like to see a fund being put in place to allow local authorities to start that process.

I acknowledge the Minister's point about holding his ground on the Celtic Sea TAC and the UK's position. That is very welcome and we support the Minister.

I have had a lot of contact this week from the inshore sector with concerns about the shrimp market. The shrimp market is collapsing this week. Fishermen were getting around €20 per kg. That has gone down to about €11 per kg and in some areas they have actually stopped taking shrimp altogether. The vast majority of the shrimp, at least in Cork and I am not sure of the situation nationally, is going to Spain. The Spanish have stopped taking it for various reasons. That is leaving many of those inshore fishing boats in a vulnerable position. Now is the time to underline again the call by inshore fishermen for some type of support scheme, following on from the inshore support scheme provided last year. Under that scheme, boats were able to avail of a grant of up to €2,700. That was very welcome but we need another scheme of the same scale, or even bigger, to address the situation with the inshore sector. It is facing the same difficulties as every other sector but the crisis with the shrimp market is highlighting it even further. Is the Minister aware of this matter and has he considered any further supports for the inshore sector in light of the crisis?