Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I continue to be very aware of the challenges being faced by the seafood sector arising from the increased costs of marine fuel.

As previously stated in response to this issue I met with industry’s representative groups throughout the latter half of 2022 to discuss the matter. I also reported on the development of support schemes in line with the recommendations of the Seafood Task Force, which I established to examine the implications arising from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for the Irish fishing industry and the coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. Working very closely with industry, a number of short and longer term supports were developed to enable our seafood sector and coastal communities to address and overcome the significant challenges faced following Brexit. These schemes reflect the initiatives identified by the Taskforce that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet, and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.

To date I have made some €271.3 million in support available to the Irish fishing fleet and seafood sector. A further four liquidity schemes worth €34 million are in the final stages of formal State Aid approval. Such measures will help ensure the resilience of the sector to pressures created by elevated input prices, such as fuel. I will continue to monitor fuel prices and while I note that there has been a drift upwards in recent months, prices remain significantly below the peaks of last summer.

Beyond this, my Department’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Seafood Development Programme is commencing its implementation. That €258 million programme will continue to provide a wide range of supports for fishers and the wider development of the seafood sector.