Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 547: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of funding that has been set aside for aquaculture under the €42 million operational fund for fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35861/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Seafood Development Operational Programme which was adopted by the EU Commission on the 9th September 2008 was allocated €42.26 million of European Fisheries Funds for the period 2007-2013. This Operational Programme will only involve schemes which are co-funded by EFF monies. Following intense negotiations between Department and the EU Commission these co-funded monies were allocated in the main to the decommissioning scheme which was identified as a priority by the Cawley Strategy, Steering A New Course.

Aquaculture development will be supported by exchequer funding for the 2007-2013 period. The estimates for 2009 has set aside €5 million to support aquaculture development. In addition support is provided to the sector by Bord Iascaigh Mhara.