Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his vision for the future development of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43481/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. My plans for the development of the overall seafood sector in the very short term are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector. That Programme is co-funded by the European Union under the European Fisheries Fund. It was considerably updated in 2012, following an interim evaluation of its progress and further updated again in 2014 to include additional investments in the 6 State owned Fishery Harbour Centres. The Programme identifies the development needs of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and the measures that will be implemented to address those needs. The complementary Irish Seafood National Programme is the framework programme for a small number of measures that are not included in the Seafood Development Programme or are not eligible for EU co-funding.

My Department is presently preparing a new Seafood Development Programme for the period 2014-2020 under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Earlier this year, following months of intense lobbying and negotiation at EU level, I announced on 12 June that I had secured for our industry €148 million from the new EU Fund. I followed up on that announcement in Budget 2015 with the announcement of national co-funding that will bring the total Fund available for the new Seafood Development Programme to €241 million. This is a doubling of the investment funds available compared to the previous Programme and will ensure a strong seafood industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential up to 2020. I expect to publish a draft of the new Programme for public consultation before the end of this year and to see new support measures being launched from 2015 onwards.

I have also launched measures to focus development of Ireland’s inshore fishing sector, which I see has a key role to play in sustaining rural, coastal communities. The measures include the establishment of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum based on a network of regional forums to give inshore fishermen and their communities a direct voice in developing their sector. The first Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum meetings have taken place and I look forward to meeting their representatives at the National Inshore Fisheries Forum at the start of December. I have also committed up a total funding programme for inshore fishermen in 2014 worth up to €1m. This is aimed at providing financial assistance for sustainable, environmentally friendly fishing practices and the recent safety equipment and training initiative.

From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. This will ensure that families dependent on fishing can look forward to being part of a vibrant, productive and resilient Irish fishing industry.