Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 21 January 2015 regarding the 2011 Killybegs jobs initiative, in which the establishment of a local implementation group in 2012 to enhance project delivery was confirmed, the names of the members of this group; the work which it has undertaken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35523/15]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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136. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 21 January 2015 regarding the 2011 jobs initiative in Killybegs in County Donegal in which the establishment of a local implementation group in 2012 to enhance project delivery was confirmed; if he will provide the details of the minutes of each meeting held by the group since its formation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35635/15]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the work of the Killybegs employment implementation group; the number of jobs created, and in what sectors, since the announcement of the Group in July 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35674/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 136 and 141 together.

On 3 June 2011, I announced a pilot jobs initiative for Killybegs, following the launch of an economic report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community. The aim of this initiative was to create 250 cross sectoral jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014. Seafood processing was just one of the areas identified as having the potential to create additional employment.

To drive forward the initiative, I established a High Level Group on Job Creation in the Killybegs Region and requested that the Group identify the potential actions required to deliver job creation in the following five key areas, that is; promoting seafood value added activity; enhancing ancillary services; developing offshore supports; promoting tourism and marine leisure; and promoting the green economy and renewable energy.

The High Level Group comprised representatives of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (who chaired the Group), Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Enterprise Ireland, local industry and from my Department. BIM provided secretariat services to assist the chair.

The High Level Group finished its work in 2011 and its Report is available on my Department’s website at:

Since 2012, a local implementation group reporting to Donegal County Council has taken on responsibility for driving forward the initiative. Bord Iascaigh Mhara provide advice to the Group as requested on any aspects relevant to the responsibilities of my Department. Donegal County Council may assist the Deputy with the specific details requested.

I am informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that by the end of 2014, 89 jobs had been created in seafood processing companies in the Killybegs area. I do not have information available to me on jobs created in areas outside of my area of responsibility.

It is clear that the future is very promising for the seafood industry generally and Killybegs is central to that growth story. While the Killybegs Jobs Initiative was important in terms of fostering a diversified blue economy in Killybegs, seafood will continue to be the driver of economic growth for Killybegs in the years to come.

The seafood sector continues to be a high-growth area of the economy and indeed of our food industry. Exports have grown 70% since 2009 and the sector is now worth €850 million in sales. Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia are working with seafood companies in Killybegs and elsewhere around our coast to grow the sector to €1 billion in the next few years. This will be driven by our seafood processing sector adding value to commodity products, innovating and developing new consumer seafood products, with the assistance of BIM’s Seafood Development Centres in Clonakilty and Killybegs, and winning new markets for Ireland’s top quality seafood.

Earlier this year, I announced a new €241 million Seafood Development Operational Programme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. This new Programme will double the level of supports for the sustainable development of the seafood sector over the coming years. I expect that the new Programme will be adopted by the European Commission by December. My Department is working with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to have a range of supports ready to launch from the start of 2016 to support and promote the sustainable growth of the processing, aquaculture and fishing sectors through that Programme.