Written answers

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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923. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund; when details of the fund will be available to stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4498/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In June 2018, the European Commission published its proposals for a Regulation on the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for the 2021-27 period, as the successor to the present EMFF 2014-20. Following a period of negotiation in both the European Council and European Parliament, and subsequent trilateral negotiations between the co-legislators and Commission, agreement was reached in December 2020 on the Regulation. The Regulation is expected to be enacted by April 2021. Ireland is set to be allocated €142 million under the Fund and National co-funding is required.

The EMFAF, together with the Common Provisions Regulation, require Ireland to develop an Operational Programme, as a framework for the distribution of the Fund. In January 2020, my Department initiated the process of developing Ireland's new Seafood Development Programme 2021-27 with a public consultation process and a series of meetings with key stakeholders. A suite of SWOT and Needs Analyses were developed and my Department consulted again with stakeholders on these earlier in January through a day-long series of workshops with the interim Programme Monitoring Committee.

Work will continue on Programme development over the coming months, culminating in a final public consultation in the Summer and the final Programme document will then be submitted to the European Commission for its adoption. Individual support schemes will then be rolled out.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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924. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of projects currently funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; if he will provide stop-gap funding to ensure the completion of projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of development funding for the fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processors sectors and for the socio-economic development and economic diversification of coastal communities traditionally dependent on fisheries through the seven EMFF Fisheries Local Action Groups. The Programme also funds control and enforcement of the CFP, our EU Data Collection responsibilities, marine biodiversity protection and some elements the Integrated Maritime Policy such as marine knowledge and marine spatial planning. The Programme is implemented through a suite of 18 individual schemes, most of which are implemented through Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with further details available at.

The Programme operates primarily over the 2014-20 period, and is nearing its natural end with over 90% of Programme funds committed through grant offers and remaining funds to be committed this year. For now, most industry support schemes remain open for new applications. Funds are available to my Department and to BIM to pay outstanding approved grants in 2021.

A new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund is presently being developed within my Department and I anticipate that it will be adopted by the European Commission and become operational by end 2021.

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