Written answers

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Severe Weather Events Response

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

602. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if under the proposals for the Common Fisheries Policy, moneys would be available for assistance in upgrading or buying new gear for fishermen badly affected by recent storm damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9522/14]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

603. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist fishermen who have lost nets and gear or whose equipment has been badly damaged in the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9523/14]

Photo of Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

606. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available to assist fishermen around the coast of Ireland and in particular the south west coast who have suffered significant losses as a result of the recent severe weather; if he will put in place an adequate compensation scheme for those who are facing financial ruin as a result of the recent bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9571/14]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 602, 603 and 606 together.

On 12 February 2014, I informed the House that as part of its overall co-ordinated response to the impact of the recent unprecedented weather conditions, the Government had decided to allocate an additional €8.8 million for the repair of the publicly owned pier, harbour and slipway network linked to fisheries and aquaculture and to allocate up to €1.5 million to assist inshore fishermen in replacing lobster and shrimp pots lost or destroyed in the storms.

While it is difficult to be definitive at this stage, following extensive consultation with local authorities, my engineers estimate that there are more than 100 pier, harbour and slipway projects involving significant damage across nine counties. In light of the additional funds now available my Department has, as of 18 February, invited applications for funding from Local Authorities in respect of projects which relate to the repair of public fishery and aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events. The closure date for applications is Friday 28 February. This scheme will form an extended part my Department's 2014 capital programme which provides support for the maintenance and development of public piers and harbours on an annual basis. In 2014, priority will be given to projects which relate to the repair of public Fishery and Aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events.

In addition to the funding to be provided to local authorities, my Department will be moving to repair storm damage to piers, harbours and coastal infrastructure in its direct ownership. This will include moving as quickly as possible to repair the significant storm damage to North Harbour in Cape Clear, West Cork; Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre, County Waterford; the Gun Rock beacon, Inisboffin, County Mayo; the West Cove navigational beacon, County Kerry; and Roonagh Pier, County Mayo.

In relation to inshore fishermen, a temporary one-off scheme of assistance to these pot fishermen is now available through Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with a closing date of 28 March 2014. The Scheme is focused on smaller inshore fishermen, with vessels under 15 metres. It provides a set amount of €24 per lobster pot lost or €12 per shrimp pot lost, equivalent to 40% of the replacement cost, and is capped at a maximum of 50 pots for under 12 metre vessels and 100 for under 15 metre vessels. A fisherman who has lost 100 pots at the replacement cost of approximately €6,000 will receive assistance of a little under €2,500. While I am conscious that some pot fishermen have reported losses of several hundred pots, I believe these are exceptional cases. The €1.5 million budget for this Scheme will be borne by the existing Vote within my Department and is not additional funding. There is no scope to increase this budget further, so I am emphasising that should applications exceed this budget, the rate of assistance will be reduced, either in terms of the amount of payment per pot or the maximum number of pots, in order to remain within a managed budget.

The Deputies will agree that these are significant interventions in the current economic circumstances and are a clear indication of this Government's commitment to assisting rural coastal communities and the inshore fishing sector with their recovery from the storms.

As income from fishing is derived from landings of catch, the amount that can be caught and therefore the income from most fisheries is determined by the EU quotas which are restrictive, and made available under our management arrangements with catch limits set for whitefish each month.

The quotas are managed to allow for access to quota for the full twelve months of the year, as far as possible. The quota uptake figures for January 2014 and for the first part of February are significantly down. In order that vessel owners and their crews are enabled to compensate as early as possible for these low catch levels, I have agreed with Industry to set allocations for March for a number of the key economic stocks at a higher level than in February. These increased quotas and fishing opportunities for March will help to re-balance the landings to bring them more into line with planned annual spread of quota uptake. They can be further adjusted in April to take into account of the low level of landings in the first 6 weeks of the year.

In relation to any specific payments to compensate for lost earnings, the Minister for Social Protection has the overall responsibility for funding income support to individuals and families in the circumstances that have arisen. Minister Burton’s Department runs a number of schemes to support people in circumstances of loss of income.

Under the Common Fisheries Policy, the proposed Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will replace the present European Fisheries Fund, and is to cover the period 2014 – 2020. While the co-legislators have reached political agreement on the proposed EMFF Regulation, it will not be adopted in law until probably June this year. My Department is working to prepare a new Operational Programme for the seafood sector under the EMFF. That Programme is dependent on the progress of the proposed Regulation and so is likely to be finalised towards the end of the year. There are many potential investments in the proposed EMFF Regulation and Member States are not expected to include all in their operational programmes. Each member state must make investment choices, having regard to the finite allocation from the EMFF that each Member State will receive. I am working closely with all stakeholders in making those hard choices between many competing and worthwhile investment priorities. It is thus premature from both a legal and practical perspective to say at this time how the EMFF may assist fishermen with gear replacement or upgrade. Having said that, the elimination of discards and reducing the impact on the marine environment of fishing gear are key elements of the new CFP and I am committed to assisting fishermen in adjusting fishing practices to comply with these CFP rules. The proposed EMFF Regulation allows Member States to provide financial assistance with EMFF co-funding to fishermen towards the cost of gear that meets these policy objectives.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.