Written answers

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Photo of Duncan SmithDuncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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355. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if additional funding has been requested from the EU for the Naval Service to support patrolling Irish territorial waters in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40303/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not requested any additional funding from the EU for the Naval Service in the context of Brexit. However, my Department does apply for appropriate EU funding opportunities in support of the Defence Forces as and when they arise. My Department has secured approval in principle for EU funding available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme (2014-2020) for a number of relevant projects, including projects specifically linked to Naval Service capabilities and operations.

Almost €14 million is available from the four projects, which my Department has been approved in principle for, subject to agreed conditions. The table below provides a brief description of each project and the amount of funding available.

Project Name Funding applied for and approved
Upgrade of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) € 9,000,000
Training for new MPA € 675,000
Upgrade of Fishery Monitoring Centre IT system € 1,300,000
Support of Specific Species Control and Inspection Programmes € 3,000,000

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