Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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635. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s maximum contribution under the local authority element of the Coastal Infrastructure and Development Fund will be increased beyond €200,000; if the requirement of 25% match funding from the local authority will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62885/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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While my Department has a Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and has made some funding available to local authorities, those authorities have other, more significant funding streams. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Recently, I received the Report of the Seafood Sector Task Force which makes recommendations to address the impacts on the fishing sector and coastal communities of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The Taskforce has specifically recommended an initiative of significant investment in publicly owned marine infrastructure to assist in diversification of economic opportunities to offset the effects of the TCA, particularly in communities dependent on fishing activity.

Officials in my Department are actively engaged in examining what kind of mechanisms could be developed to leverage the Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding that Ireland has received for this purpose.