Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for the EMFF investment for aquaculture enterprises under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme from County Wexford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13628/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of financial supports for our seafood sector. The Programme supports a wide variety of measures, including capital investment, innovation, professional advisory services, marketing and training, among others. The EMFF Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme supports capital investment by licensed aquaculture enterprises to sustainably grow production and reduce environmental impact of aquaculture, together with costs of organic certification of aquaculture production.

On 5th March 2021, I announced grant awards of €1.8 million to 28 aquaculture enterprises, supporting total investment of €4.5 million. There was one application made from Co Wexford from Fitzpatrick Oysters Ltd, which was successful in receiving EMFF grant funding of €31,200 to support an overall investment of €78,000 in the purchase of farm equipment.