Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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405. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he plans to implement the European Parliament recommendations (details supplied) in regards to providing the necessary administrative and financial support for new producer organisations (POs) to set up and operate, especially for small-scale coastal fisheries; the details of the funding measures that will be put in place to assist new POs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39928/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Producer Organisations (POs) are officially recognised bodies set up by fishery or aquaculture producers, to manage the activity of their members. POs can play an important role in the market, improving economic returns for their members, stabilising the market, avoiding and reducing as far as possible unwanted catches and generally coordinating the activities of their members.

The resolution adopted by the European Parliament refers to issues at EU level affecting POs, in particular complex set-up and recognition frameworks, and financial and legal uncertainties regarding financial support and eligibility of actions.

In recent years two new POs have achieved recognition in Ireland. Funding support for POs has been available under a scheme funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), which clearly set out the costs that are eligible for funding. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) administers the PO scheme and can provide clarification to POs where there are any queries concerning the terms and conditions of the scheme. A new PO scheme is currently being developed for funding under the successor to the EMFF, which is the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

My Department has commenced engagement with BIM, the Marine Institute and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, with a view to reviewing the PO Scheme which operated under the EMFF, and to consider how the new scheme might better support POs. In doing so we must ensure the new scheme is fully aligned with the provisions and objectives of EMFAF, as well as the objectives of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, which is the regulatory basis for the establishment of POs. Other stakeholders, including the POs, will be invited to participate in this review in the coming months. The recommendations of the European Parliament, regarding the provision of administrative and financial supports for new Producer Organisations (PO) will be included in the considerations as part of the review of the Producer Organisation Scheme.

As this review will take some time to complete, my Department has engaged with the POs and an initial PO scheme that is similar to the scheme operated under EMFF will be put in place, pending a new scheme being finalised. This will allow for financial support to be paid to eligible POs in 2024, with future funding to be granted under the terms of the new revised scheme, once it is finalised and adopted by the EMFAF Monitoring Committee. I envisage that this collaborative approach to the review of the scheme will be of benefit to existing, as well as new POs, and support them in fulfilling their functions as set out in the CMO Regulation during the programming period.