Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I will happily meet him offline on this issue to give a fuller and more detailed briefing than I am able to give on the floor today, as things progress. As the he will be aware, the Asgard II sank in 2008 and the national sail training programme run by Coiste an Asgard was subsequently wound up.

I understand a number of organisations are involved in sail training in Ireland and the Department of Defence currently provides funding to one of these organisations, Sail Training Ireland.  Sail Training Ireland is a charity founded by individuals previously involved with Coiste an Asgard.

A total of €85,000 in funding was provided in 2019, and €20,000 in 2020. It has received no money this year as it has not been possible to have a sail training programme. A performance delivery agreement stipulates that funding provided is to be used to provide a sail training experience for 50 trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds.  I am advised that no sail training took place in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions. A sum of €20,000 was provided in 2020 to help support administrative costs.  It is anticipated that €85,000 will be provided in 2022, subject to the resumption of sail training.

Separately, in 2015, as part of the Fresh Start Agreement, the Government undertook to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to agree a funding plan for the Atlantic Youth Trust, AYT, project.  A similar commitment was included in the 2016 programme for Government.  The proposal was to build a new tall ship at an estimated cost of €15.5 million, with an ongoing funding requirement. Officials in my Department held meetings with the promoters and the Department for Communities in Belfast exploring the project.  Progress was slow, in part due to political difficulties in the North. On 24 September 2021, a new pre-budget submission from AYT was received, which will be reviewed by officials.

In summary, the Government is engaged with two sail training organisations. We remain supportive of the principles of the sail training programme and would like to see this done, where possible, on an all-island basis involving participants, North and South. It needs to be robustly assessed with regard to full costs.

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