Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the projects which have been funded or approved for funding in the past three years under the EU fishery funds for peripheral areas and the west coast. [15936/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the period 2002 to date financial instrument for fisheries guidance, FIFG, grant aid has been paid under the supporting measures for sea fisheries development (towards innovation and sustainability in the fisheries sector) and the fishing fleet development measure of the productive sector operational programme and the aquaculture development measures of the Border, midland and west and south and east regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan 2000-06.

The following table sets out the number of projects approved and funded for the period January 2002 to date under the three operational programmes in the peripheral areas and the west coast.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the system that is in place to fund, and the amount of funding allocated, to the regional advisory council for the north west and the regional advisory council for the pelagic sector, in particular the amount available for research work by each council. [15937/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Council decision of 19 July 2004 establishing regional advisory councils, RACs, provides for a maximum Community contribution of €200,000 for each RAC to its operating costs for its first year of operation, reducing gradually to €110,000 for the fifth year of operation. This contribution shall be in respect of costs necessary to ensure the normal operation of RACs and to enable them to pursue their aims, but shall not exceed 90% of the operating budget of the RAC. There is a further Community allocation of up to €50,000 per year for each RAC to cover interpretation and translation costs. Additional funding may also be provided by the administrations and from the industries of the member states participating in the RAC. The budgets of the RACs referred to have yet to be finalised. Any spending on research work by an individual RAC will be a matter for that RAC to decide from the resources available to it.