John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

191. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount of funding in the Brexit reserve fund (details supplied); the way that it has been allocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36881/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s allocation from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is €1.065 billion in constant (2018) prices, equivalent to €1.165 billion in current prices, representing just over 20% of the total Reserve, or the largest allocation for any Member State.

- €361.6 million received in 2021

- €276.7 million received in 2022

- Third tranche due in 2023

The allocation of resources from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve is aligned with the annual Estimates process, which has been the vehicle for allocating Brexit resources since the UK referendum on EU membership in 2016. Budget 2022 announced that around €500 million of the overall BAR allocation will be made available as a first tranche of funding, with the remainder available in 2023.

Areas for funding under the Reserve that have been identified include: enterprise supports; measures to support fisheries and coastal communities; targeted supports for the agri-food sector; reskilling and retraining; and checks and controls at ports and airports.

To allow Departments to proceed with programmes to be funded under the Reserve, some €54 million was allocated as initial funding in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2022.

Further allocations will be made as the impacts of Brexit are worked through, including by means of supplementary estimates as required. Work is continuing across Government, with all Departments examining measures that need to be taken.

For example, work is underway on the development of additional inspection facilities at Rosslare Europort, while the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine is developing proposals including in response to the report of the Seafood Sector Taskforce. In this regard the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine is progressing the implementation of a range of schemes to address the financial impacts of Brexit across the agri-food sector. This includes schemes for the fisheries sector involving Brexit Adjustment Reserve support of up to € 143 million. State Aid approval is anticipated for further schemes.