Written answers

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishing Industry Development

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in implementing the Bord Iascaigh Mhara strategy 2010 to 2012, Delivering on the Potential of Irish Seafood, and the Irish seafood national programme 2007 to 2013; the level of investment in the sector under these programmes; the number of jobs created; the growth in exports of seafood products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7155/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Seafood Development Programme(SDP)2007-2013 is the framework programme for public investment in the seafood industry, co-funded by the Exchequer and the European Fisheries Fund. The SDP has been operational since 2008 and will end in December 2015 at the latest. The SDP provides for total public investment of €66 million in the fishing fleet, aquaculture, seafood processing, marketing and promotion of seafood, fishery harbours, and the economic development of fisheries communities. By the end of 2013, a little over €45 million had been invested under the SDP.

The Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013 is a complementary Exchequer funded framework programme for a small number of investment measures that were ineligible under the main EU co-funded programme or where there was insufficient funding available under that programme to implement all planned investment measures. By the end of 2013, approximately €8 million had been invested under the National Programme.

The seafood sector provides employment for approximately 11,000 people around the coast of Ireland. Employment levels have remained broadly stable over recent years, despite the recession.

The value of seafood exports has been increasing rapidly in recent years, despite the recession. Seafood exports increased in value by 70% between 2009 and 2014, rising from €315 million to €540 million. Taking exports and the home market into account the Irish seafood sector is now worth €800 million annually. There is significant scope for further value expansion in our seafood sector in the years ahead.

In relation to Bord Iascaigh Mhara's achievements in implementing its 2010-2012 Strategy 'Delivering on the Potential of Irish Seafood', that is an operational matter for the Board of BIM. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to BIM for direct response. The Deputy may wish to note that in 2013 BIM launched its present five year strategy for 2013-2017 – 'Capturing Ireland's Share of the Global Seafood Opportunity' and that is ongoing.

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