Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the funding committed under the aquaculture initiative by his Department in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52472/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Aquaculture Initiative (CBAIT) was established in 1998 as a European Economic Interest Group (EEIG) under the European Communities (European Economic Interest Groupings) Regulations 1989 – S.I. 191 of 1989 with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) listed as the member for Ireland. CBAIT was established for the purpose of assisting in the development of the aquaculture sector in the six counties of Northern Ireland and in the six border counties of Ireland.

CBAIT’s operating costs were funded primarily under the PEACE Programme and its successors however that source of funding is no longer available. On 1^st January 2012 personnel in CBAIT, assigned to the six border counties of Ireland, were absorbed into the BIM staff complement.

BIM continues to support the development of aquaculture on a national basis. The amounts allocated to aquaculture development through national and EU measures for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 were €654,402, €546,456 and €260,198 (year to date) respectively.