Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The report of the Independent Salmon Group recommended that a community support scheme be established to support the development of additional economic opportunities in communities affected by the closure of the drift net fishery. It recommended that the focus of this measure should primarily be those communities where drift net fishing had been a well established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacts on their economic and social fabric, for example, Gaeltacht areas and island communities formerly involved in drift net fishing.

In addition to the €25 million salmon hardship scheme, the Government subsequently provided for a fund amounting to €5 million that will be available for such a community support scheme. This scheme will be directed at the development of additional economic opportunities for former crew in the salmon fishery and employees in the processing and ancillary sectors in the communities.

The scheme is to be administered by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I am advised that details of the scheme are being finalised with a view to allocating the available funds to those affected fishery districts, proportionate to the impact of the cessation of the mixed stock fishery. Consultations with the Leader companies, conducted through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will inform the most effective distribution of funds.

In this regard, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs invited Leader companies to prepare submissions, the last of which was received on Friday, 9 November to ensure that resources are directed to the most affected areas. My officials met their counterparts from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on Tuesday, 13 November to review the submissions. As soon as this exercise is completed, details of the scheme will be finalised and published through the Leader companies.

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