Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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118. 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 that the Irish industry can compete with all others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25866/24]

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. In addition to meeting representatives of the sector, holding formal consultations and attending public forums, we monitor developments in key economic indicators.

I established the Seafood Task Force in 2021 to examine the impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on our fishing sector and coastal communities and to recommend mitigation measures.

On foot of the recommendations of the Task Force, I secured funding for a total of sixteen schemes for the seafood sector with a total budget allocation of €307.96 million, funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR). These schemes provided support for development and restructuring to ensure Ireland has a seafood sector that is as profitable and sustainable as it possibly can be, and to identify new opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities.

In addition to the measures recommended by the Task Force, my Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme, operating since 2016, has supported the sustainable development of our seafood sector.

That Programme has now concluded and is succeeded by the new Seafood Development Programme under the European Maritime Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund (EMFAF) 2021-27 which was adopted by the European Commission in December 2022.

The new €258 million EMFAF Operational 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.

I formally launched the EMFAF 2021-27 programme in February this year at the Skipper Expo, where I announced seven support schemes (Inshore Fisheries, Sustainable Fisheries, Knowledge Gateway, Seafood Capacity Building, Young Fisher, Seafood Processing Capital Investment and Seafood Training schemes).

The Implementation Plans required to underpin these new schemes have been progressed over recent months. Those required to support the implementation of four of the above schemes (Sustainable Fisheries Scheme; Seafood Processing Capital Investment Scheme; Young Fisher Scheme; Seafood Capacity Building Scheme) have been finalised following the required procedures of the EMFAF Monitoring Committee whose membership includes industry stakeholders.

The remaining Implementation Plans are also currently close to being finalised with the Monitoring Committee. These schemes will be implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) beginning in June and over the following months. My Department is working with BIM to finalise the launch dates for these schemes. Once launched, details of all schemes will be available on the BIM website .

My Department also funds 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.