Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status and proposed usage of the new Bord Iascaigh Mhara facility at Clonakility, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37822/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Having reviewed its decentralisation scheme, and having regard to progress made, commitments entered into and costs involved, the Government announced, on 14th October 2007, the priority projects which should proceed.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) the Irish Sea Fisheries Board, was amongst the projects identified to proceed. It is important to note that BIM is the independent, statutory agency with responsibility for developing a sustainable Irish Seafood industry. The deployment of staff and the general management of the agency are matters for BIM.

BIM is planning to officially open the new Seafood Development Centre based in Clonakilty, on Tuesday next, 27th October. This facility has been developed in response to the key recommendations of the Government led 'Steering a New Course' seafood strategy 2007-2013. A key element of that strategy is to drive value enhancement, quality improvement, product development, and innovation in the seafood processing sector. The overall objective is to enhance the value generated for the Irish seafood sector from the raw materials sustainably harvested by the Irish fishing industry. Traditionally, much of the fish landed has been exported in raw, bulk form and added value has been captured downstream outside the country. BIM currently estimate that 85% of all Irish seafood produce sold is commodity based. They estimate that each 10% switch from commodity product sales to added value product sales would generate approximately €34M per annum in additional seafood revenues for the Irish industry.

The new Seafood Development Centre, which is the first dedicated innovation facility for the Irish seafood sector, will provide commercially focused innovation and new product development capability services to the Irish seafood industry. BIM anticipate that by focusing on delivering value-added seafood relevant to consumer needs the seafood sector can develop more stable high end markets and new products which generate greater profitability for the whole of the Irish Seafood sector.