Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department acts as a Paying Agency for a number of EU funds; the vast majority of these funds are programmed in multi annual cycles such as the CAP Strategic Plan and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme.

The CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 has a budget of €9.8 billion, with €5.97 billion in Pillar 1 for Direct Payments coming from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF). The remaining €3.86 billion in Pillar 2 is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the National Exchequer. All of the funding available from the EAGF and EAFRD is allocated and programmed in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme 2021-27 provides €258 million to our seafood sector and our coastal communities. These communities have faced extraordinary challenges in recent times, particularly due to Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The EMFAF supports the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the EU Maritime Policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. Building on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020, it provides supports to achieve food security through the supply of seafood products, growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy, safe and sustainably managed seas and oceans.

My Department will continue to explore and avail of EU funding opportunities to support the relevant sectors.