Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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241. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to encourage the fishing industry, with particular reference to ensuring the industry here can compete with all others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8610/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that my Department constantly monitors the needs of the fisheries 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 2023.

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 16 schemes have been developed based on its recommendations.

Included in the schemes 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.

In addition to the measures recommended by the Task Force, my Department’s €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-20 has been operating since 2016, supporting the sustainable development of our seafood sector. The Programme has now concluded and is succeeded by the new Seafood Development Programme under EMFAF 2021-27 which was adopted by the European Commission in December 2022. The new €258 million programme will continue the provision of a wide range of financial supports to fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing enterprises and to enterprises, groups and individuals in coastal communities. These will include supports for capital investment, innovation, professional advisory services and marketing.

In addition, the Department funds Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which is the state agency responsible for development of the Seafood sector. BIM works closely with industry and all of the recognised representative groups, actively supporting the development of the sector in a myriad of ways. Further information on the work of BIM is available on BIM's website at BIM - Supporting the Irish Seafood Industry BIM will receive funding in excess of €22 million from my Department in 2024 to support its work.

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.