Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1561. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide further funding from EU Brexit funding to support the inshore fishing sector. [13049/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, I established the Seafood Task Force to examine the implications of the EU/UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for the Fishing Industry and Coastal Communities and to consider initiatives and make recommendations to address those implications. The Task Force had among its members representatives of the inshore sector including the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation (IIMRO) and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF). Their participation ensured that the industry shaped the recommendations according to their needs and the difficulties that they faced.

Based on the recommendations of the Task Force, I introduced a number of schemes to support the inshore sector directly and other schemes to benefit the seafood sector as a whole. These included the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme to assist inshore fishers to adapt their business operations to the post Brexit environment. Under this scheme 800 eligible inshore fishers were provided with online training modules and awarded supports of between €2,700 and €4,000 each.

I also announced the Brexit Inshore Marketing Scheme, based on another Task Force recommendation. This scheme which operated over 2022 and is continuing into 2023 is delivered by Bord Bia to promote sales of stocks of interest to inshore fishermen, in order to boost prices at the quayside. The plan focuses on supporting the sales and promotion of inshore species such as Irish crab, lobster, whelks, inshore herring/mackerel and line caught hake and pollock on both the domestic and export markets. €1 million in funding has been provided.

I am continuing to address the recommendations on a phased and prioritised basis as recommended by the Task Force, and evaluate these in respect of State Aid rules and EU guidelines on the use of Brexit Adjustment Reserve Funding.