Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the level of investment in developing fishery harbour infrastructure; if an aquaculture and fish processing investment programme as announced in the Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal report has been implemented since December 2008; and the status of the whitefish fleet decommissioning scheme announced in December 2008. [43130/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme provides funding for infrastructural developments at the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres and also provides co-funding towards works at fishery harbours owned by coastal Local Authorities. In excess of €19 million was spent on the Programme in 2008 and in 2009 expenditure is expected to be in the region of €15 million. Funding for the aquaculture and fish processing sectors is covered under the National Seafood Development OP 2007-2013. A draft OP was advertised for public consultation in October 2008 as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment.

During the consultation both the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on behalf of the Central Fisheries Board raised concerns regarding the granting of aid to projects where environmental issues arise relating to compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and sea lice control on salmon farms. The Department is in close liaison with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Department of 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.

The Decommissioning Scheme which was launched in February 2008 has led to 46 vessels being decommissioned and €36.6m paid to vessel owners over 2008 and 2009. In total 6,913 GTs and 19,356 kWs have been taken out of the Irish sea-fishing fleet which means a greater share of quotas for those remaining in the industry. The Decommissioning scheme is now closed.