Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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551. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a decision by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to exclude certain companies from a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36293/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme intended to compensate processors that suffered a reduction in turnover of at least 15% as compared to the scheme baseline reference period, and who could also demonstrate that their reduction in turnover was attributed to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement in respect of reduced supply of species directly impacted by quota cuts and/or because of increased operational costs for logistics and administration associated with Brexit. It was designed to stabilise cashflow and assist processors to adapt their operations to the new trading arrangements with the UK.

The award of aid under this scheme, which was also subject to a State Aid approval by the EU Commission, was determined by reference to the scheme's eligibility criteria and not its budget.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) administered the scheme and an appeals process was available and utilised. BIM has engaged directly with those entities who appealed.

The term of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve expired on 31 December 2023 and the Brexit Fish Processor Transition Scheme is closed, consequently it is not possible to consider any further payments under this scheme.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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552. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update in respect of his Department's actions following an abnormal loss of farmed salmon stock into Killary Harbour; and the number of fish reported as lost in this instance, in tabular form. [36354/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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On 13 August 2024 my Department received notification from the Licensee that there had been an escape of salmon from one cage at a site in Killary Harbour, Co. Galway. The Marine Institute and Inland Fisheries Ireland were also informed, in accordance with the applicable aquaculture licence conditions.

My Department’s Marine Engineers carried out an inspection of the site on 15 August and a report was prepared. The operator has indicated that approximately 7,000 -8,000 fish escaped through a tear in the net which was damaged by a boat working at the pen during inclement weather. The net was subsequently repaired and has since been replaced. A final figure of escaped fish will be available at the next grading of fish on the site.

A report has also been prepared by my Department’s scientific advisor, the Marine Institute. A disease surveillance inspection was carried out at the site on 17 May 2024, under Regulation (EU) (‘Animal Health Law’) and its supplementing Regulations. This inspection did not indicate the presence of any disease listed in Annex II to that Regulation, or an emerging disease, as referred to in Article 6 of that Regulation. The Marine Institute has not been notified of any change to the health status of the site since then, and neither has the presence of any non-listed disease been reported.

The Licensee has advised that efforts are ongoing to recapture fish and they are liaising with Inland Fisheries Ireland in this regard.