Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment will increase in the fishing sector, including in fish processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2688/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The seafood sector continues to be a high-growth area of the economy and indeed of our food industry. Last week Bord Bia announced that sales in the seafood sector for 2015 soared to €890m and exports had increased by 4% to €560m, a 77% rise since 2009. Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Bord Bia are working with seafood companies 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. Last week, I launched the initial tranche of schemes to commence roll-out of Ireland’s new €240 million Seafood Development Operational Programme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. This new Programme doubles the level of supports for the sustainable development of the seafood sector over the coming years. My Department is working with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to deliver the wider range of supports the Programme facilitates within the coming weeks and months so that the processing, aquaculture and fishing sectors get the support and promotion needed to develop sustainably and support job creation in coastal communities.