Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the progress in his Departments implementations of the Cawley report to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43945/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) is the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector.

An implementation group, the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) was set up last year under the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley. It is comprised of stakeholders from all sectors of the industry as well as representatives from the relevant state agencies and from my Department.

This group is charged with overseeing and driving the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Cawley Report. Substantial progress has already been made on a number of fronts, in particular the launch of the current decommissioning scheme which was one of the key recommendations of the Cawley Report. To date a total of 45 vessels have accepted offers with one further vessel having until the 19th December to make a decision. €21m will be spent in 2008 with an estimated €16m to be spent in 2009. A significant economic benefit currently estimated at some €22m will accrue to the remainder of the fleet from the redistribution of the prawn and whitefish catch previously taken by the decommissioned vessels.

The Cawley Report recommendations and their indicated funding are underpinned by the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013.

I am confident that, with the buy in and participation of the key stakeholders in the implementation process, and considering the progress made to date, delivery of the goals in Cawley can be achieved.