Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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618. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancy in funding between the larger whitefish boats and the smaller inshore operators (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56582/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Report of the Seafood Task Force – Navigating Change (October 2021) recommended 16 support schemes at an estimated cost of €423 million, collectively designed to address the impacts of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our seafood sector and coastal communities. While individual recommendations are targeted at different segments within the fisheries and seafood sector, it is important to note that it is the combined and coordinated response to the report recommendations which is bringing transformational change to the whole seafood sector, providing opportunities for sustainable employment and growth within coastal communities.

Since the publication of the Task Force Report, many of the recommended schemes have since been launched. The first of these was a Brexit Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme which ran from October to December 2021 which made available supports of €4,600 up to €88,700 per month depending on vessel size for vessels to tie-up for a calendar month. I introduced this tie-up scheme again in June this year, this time allowing vessels to tie up for up to two calendar months. The scheme will conclude at the end of this month. This tie-up opportunity frees up additional quota for those vessels continuing to fish, improving vessel returns and supporting viability in the wider fleet.

For the inshore fleet, a Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme operated over January to March and was availed of by 801 inshore fishing vessel owners at a cost of €2.7 million to assist in adjusting their business to the post Brexit environment. In addition, a Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme is underway and is investing €600,000 in 2022 in promoting stocks of interest to inshore fishers to support prices at the quayside. Other investments such as the €35 million Brexit Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme will provide support for local authorities to renew important local infrastructure that will facilitate both fishing activities, particularly by smaller inshore vessels, and the growth of our blue economy.

It should be remembered that the recommendations proposed in the Task Force report were industry led, with the Task Force itself comprising a broad representation from across the industry and other seafood sector stakeholders, including representatives of the inshore sector. As such, it remains my priority to implement these for the benefit of all seafood stakeholders.