Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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742. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports his Department is providing, and will provide, to the fishing industry in light of recommended quota reductions for 2026. [66283/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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743. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to ensure the viability of Ireland’s sea fishing sector. [66284/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 742 and 743 together.

The advice issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and informs the EU's negotiating position for consultations with Third Countries.

The ICES advice for 2026 for a number of stocks of key importance to the Irish fleet is very concerning. The advice shows reductions of almost 70% for Mackerel, 41% for Blue Whiting, 22% for Boarfish and 21% for Nephrops (prawns).

I am acutely aware that the scale of the reduction indicated by the ICES advice is a matter of grave concern for Ireland’s seafood sector, and the coastal communities which are dependent upon it economically.

I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to working closely across Government Departments to assess what supports may be available to the seafood sector in the context of EU state aid rules, and within the constraints of both EU and national Exchequer funding. To this end, I have had initial discussions with the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, an Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

As regards existing supports, a range of supports and services are provided to the Irish fleet under Ireland's €258 million Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. These include the valuable work undertaken by the Marine Institute to support the sustainable management of our fisheries, and the supports and services provided directly to industry by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which, in addition to its technical and advisory services, also administers the grant aid schemes for industry.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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744. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to ensure that fish caught in Irish waters are processed in Ireland. [66285/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is a matter for individual operators to decide on where to land their catches, taking into account market factors and considerations in relation to weather, sea conditions and safety. Furthermore, Irish seafood processers compete for raw material with their counterparts in other EU countries, and this includes competing on price with processors in other countries for EU landings. It is a matter for processors to make commercial decisions as to the price they are prepared to offer for raw material landed into Ireland.

Notwithstanding, my Department has implemented a number of measures to promote landing of fish into Ireland.

This includes investments in the Department's network of six Fishery Harbour Centres to bring them up to best international standards. My Department administers the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme consistent with the objectives of the National Development Plan. The strategic objective of the Programme is to contribute to, from an infrastructure perspective, the future viability of the fishing industry and the sustainability of our coastal communities.

Since 2020, over €138.5 million has been invested in capital works in the Fishery Harbour Centres, Cape Clear and the piers lights and beacons; delivering key projects such as the Dinish Wharf Expansion and Breakwaters at Castletownbere, the Middle Pier at Howth and the Smooth Point Pier Extension at Killybegs.

In March this year, I announced a capital investment package of €23.4 million as part of the 2025 Programme. The allocation included capital commitments for ongoing projects and the commencement of some new projects.

The seafood processing sector has also had significant funding supports for capital investment projects in recent years, in particular under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Ireland now has one of the most modern seafood processing sectors in Europe, and this investment was designed to support measures to reduce operating costs through improved energy and production efficiencies, and new product development designed to add higher value, all with a view to improving their profitability and sustainability.