Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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607. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision on a Covid-19 temporary tie-up scheme application in respect of a fisherman (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36410/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EMFF Regulation. That Regulation was amended in 2020 to facilitate financial supports to the fishing sector for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a COVID-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme implemented over the months of June, July and August 2020 providing a lump sum to participating vessel owners to cover their fixed costs while tying up for a calendar month period.

Arising from the provisions of the EMFF Regulation, one of the mandatory qualifying criteria for this Scheme is for vessels to have carried out fishing activities at sea for at least 120 days in total over the calendar years 2018 and 2019. I am informed by BIM that the individual concerned did not satisfy this mandatory criterion and was informed of such by BIM. I am further advised by BIM that the individual concerned did not choose to appeal the decision on his application.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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608. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2021 Covid-19 temporary tie-up scheme will be opened for applications; if the terms of the scheme will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36411/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EMFF Regulation. That Regulation was amended in 2020 to facilitate financial supports to the fishing sector for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supports were restricted to either temporary fleet tie-up or storage aid market supports and were available only in the period February to December 2020. A COVID-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme was implemented over the months of June, July and August 2020 and this Scheme provided a lump sum to participating vessel owners to cover their fixed costs while tying up for a calendar month period. Some 91 vessel owners availed of the Scheme.

As the EMFF Regulation does not permit funding of COVID supports to the fishing sector beyond December 2020, I have no plans to introduce a 2021 COVID-19 Tie up Scheme.