Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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923. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the current Programme for Government's promised action to "Ensure the promotion of marine education courses and degree programmes with a view to increasing enrolments", the plans in place to increase enrolments in marine education courses and degree programmes since formation of the Government. [23749/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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924. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will continue to support higher diplomas in business in fisheries and aquaculture, and similar courses that are currently struggling to run because of a shortage of numbers, by bringing back the 50% grant-aid to help pay for fees. [23750/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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925. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he believes we can renew our fisheries and aquaculture sector if we are not educating our young people in that sector. [23751/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 to 925, inclusive, together.

My Department supports the provision of essential training and skills development for those working, or intending to work, in the Irish commercial seafood sector in a number of ways. My Department funds two National Fisheries Colleges of Ireland operated by our national seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), in addition to a range of other training and development supports provided by BIM such as mobile coastal training units, in-person workshops and online programmes. BIM also administer grant aid, funded by my Department under Ireland's Seafood Development Programme, which provides financial assistance to applicants wishing to pursue relevant courses, for example those provided by the Marine Survey Office (MSO). Full details in relation to this are available on www.bim.ie/.

In 2020, the ISO 9001:2015 Certification was awarded to BIM’s National Fisheries College of Ireland for the delivery of maritime training and education. Attaining this internationally recognised standard for quality management systems, ensures that prospective students can be certain any training they receive across all of BIM’s training sites will be of a consistently high standard. These accredited seafood training programmes and workshops are available across all sectors of the Irish seafood industry.

In general, where those working, or intending to work, in Ireland's commercial seafood sector, wish to apply for grant aid support to pursue a course which is not listed on the BIM website (e.g. here bim.ie/fisheries/training/), they should contact BIM directly, who consider such requests on a case by case basis.

In 2023 BIM published a Skills Strategy for the seafood sector: 'The Next Wave 2023 - 2028' (bim.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/104075-BIM-A5-The-Next-Wave-English-New-Cover-PAGES.pdf). It seeks to address the challenges identified in the sector, and has four key strategic objectives : Attracting new entrants to the seafood sector; Creating and promoting career paths in the seafood sector; Delivering the right courses, to the right people, in the right way; and Building strategic partnerships for growth.

The seafood sector offers a diverse range of career opportunities, from fishing to aquaculture and processing. While no doubt at present there is a tight labour market, complementing the diverse and rewarding career paths that are available in the sector with modern and professional training, will support the industry to attract and retain the talent required for its long-term success.