Written answers
Thursday, 26 October 2023
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Brexit Supports
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of grant aid approved under the Brexit inshore business model adjustment scheme that has not been drawn down by fishermen to date; the reason the funding has not been drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47032/23]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I established the Seafood Task Force in 2021 to examine measures which could be taken to mitigate the impact on the Seafood Sector and Coastal Communities of Brexit and the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Since the publication of its report, I have introduced a number of schemes in line with the recommendations.
One such measure was the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023. This de minimis short-term support scheme for the inshore sector aimed to help the sector deal with the difficult trading conditions that have arisen because of Brexit. It also aimed to help the sector transition to longer-term restructuring measures. The scheme had a budget of €3.5 million, with payments of between €2,700 and €4,000 available to eligible inshore fishers.
As of 25 October 2023, a total of 737 applications have been received with a total value of just over €2.439 million, as set out in tabular format below.
| Status | No | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Applications awarded (paid to date) | 695 | 2,302,900 |
| Applications awarded (not yet paid) | 37 | 120,700 |
| Awaiting completion of census/training | 5 | €16,100 |
| Total Overall Applications | 737 | 2,439,700 |
As a number of these applicants are yet to receive all payments and/or to complete the census or training module, it would not be appropriate at this point to offer any further detail or assessment which may result in the identification of individual applicants.
Beneficiaries of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund are published on an Bord Iascaigh Mhara's website:
BIM - The Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund
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