Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid approved to a small fisherman (details supplied) in County Kerry under the Brexit Inshore Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023 can be transferred to reduce outstanding harbour fees on his account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52792/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Recognising the significant impact of Brexit and the TCA on the Irish Seafood Sector, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine set up a Seafood Task force in March 2021. The Task Force was tasked with examining the implications arising from the EU/UK TCA for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. Based on their deliberations, the Task Force was asked to outline initiatives 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. The Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme reflects one of the Task Force's 16 recommendations.

The purpose of the scheme is to support inshore fishers as a sector adversely affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, in particular by supporting job creation and protection in the sector and assisting inshore fishermen to continue to adapt their business models to the post Brexit environment. The scheme aims to achieve this objective by offering funding to the inshore sector to assist them in repurposing their business models to adjust to the negative impacts faced from market access, logistic difficulties and difficult trading conditions as well as supporting the sector in developing new plans and approaches to the market as a result of Brexit. Training was offered to assist the sector in adapting business and marketing plans to account for the new market forces and operating environment; providing them with the tools and technical knowhow to maximise economic return from their existing resource. In that context, the schemes purpose is not to offset or reduce Harbour Dues.

As Minister responsible for the management of the Fishery Harbour Centres, I have a responsibility to manage the Fishery Harbour Centre Fund into which income from the Fishery Harbour Centres is paid to provide for the operation, maintenance and delivery of customer services in the harbours. Within my Department, the Debt Recovery Unit, liaises with Fishery Harbour Centre customers who fall into arrear and makes every effort to engage with customers from the earliest stage possible in managing debts accrued and preventing further debt accrual.

In the case of the details supplied, the repayment of harbour dues is subject to a Court ordered payment plan and it is not appropriate for me to comment further.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend a 2023 Brexit inshore fisheries business model adjustment scheme grant approval for a fisherman (details supplied) in County Kerry to allow further engagement regarding a repayment plan for outstanding harbour fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As I recently advised the Deputy, the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023 aims to provide assistance to inshore fishers in adjusting their business operations as a result of the impacts of Brexit. The scheme has a budget of some €3.5 million and is being administered by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) under the oversight of my Department.

The scheme is closed, and all payments under the scheme must be made by the 31 December 2023. BIM has no sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Plan Delivery and Reform to carry forward monies allocated for this scheme into 2024.

The terms and conditions of the scheme require, under Point 14, that all applicants must settle any outstanding licensing fees or harbour charges owing to my Department before payment of grant aid under this Scheme. This is a standard condition attaching to the payment of grant aid.

The scheme Terms and Conditions are available on BIMs website: BIM - Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023

In that context, I have asked BIM to engage directly with the fisher whose details have been provided and to advise and update him of the status of his application.

Within my Department, the Debt Recovery Unit, liaises with Fishery Harbour Centre customers who fall into arrears, makes every effort to engage with customers from the earliest stage possible in managing debts accrued and preventing further debt accrual.

In the case of the details supplied, the repayment of harbour dues is subject to a Court ordered payment plan and it is not appropriate for me to comment further.