Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the needs of the agri-food producing sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure the viability of the family fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25517/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the agri-food sector, including the seafood sector. Along with regularly meeting with representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators. My Department prepares and publishes an Annual Review and Outlook (ARO), which provides up-to-date information and statistical analysis from a variety of sources, to give a detailed overview of Ireland’s agri-food sector and an outlook for the future. The most recent Annual Review and Outlook report was published in November 2022.

I established the Seafood Sector Taskforce in March 2021 to examine the impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to make recommendations to me on a mitigation strategy. I received the Report of the Seafood Task Force in October 2021 and, based on its recommendations, I have announced over €271 million in supports and development strategies to date.

Included in the schemes announced to date are short term supports and longer-term restructuring initiatives for the fishing fleet, capital supports for both processing and aquaculture sectors, funding for entrepreneurial initiatives in coastal communities and investment in marine infrastructure. Combined, these schemes contribute to sustaining employment in the seafood sector as a whole, providing new career opportunities and ensuring those transitioning within the sector are supported.

Despite the challenges, Ireland’s fishing industry has remained resilient. In April this year, BIM published its Business of Seafood report for 2022. The report indicated that, overall, the value of the seafood sector to the Irish economy rose in 2022 to €1.3 billion (from €1.25 billion in 2021). The report also stated that the value of the overall Irish seafood sector increased by 13% in 2022, while the overall value of Irish aquaculture products increased by 10%.

I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector and I continue to pursue all opportunities to increase the fishing opportunities for Ireland’s fishing fleet.