Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure the opening of the operational programme for fisheries in order to ensure funding for the aquaculture sector. [40815/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The delay in the launch of the National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-13 arose as a result of concerns raised by the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on behalf of the Central Fisheries Board, during the public consultation process. The concerns related to the grant aiding of projects where environmental issues had been identified regarding compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and sea lice control on salmon farms. Pending resolution of these issues, the National Seafood Development Operational Programme has not yet been adopted. In an effort to ensure support and assistance for the continued development of aquaculture sector and the employment that aquaculture projects support, my officials entered into discussion with the European Commission, which agreed to the continuation of grant aid under the previous operational programme 2000-06 until 30 June 2009. As a result of these discussions, a provision of €5 million was made available for aquaculture development in the Agriculture Vote for 2009. I approved the spending of €4.5 million of this for aquaculture projects in the Border, Midlands and Western and the Southern and Eastern regions. In order to ensure continued funding of the sector, my Department is in close liaison with the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the European Commission with a view to agreeing an approach that will give the necessary assurances on the concerns raised that can facilitate the approval of the National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013.