Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2023
124. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grant aid approved to a small fisherman (details supplied) in County Kerry under the Brexit Inshore Business Model Adjustment Scheme 2023 can be transferred to reduce outstanding harbour fees on his account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52792/23]
View answerRecognising the significant impact of Brexit and the TCA on the Irish Seafood Sector, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine set up a Seafood Task force in March 2021. The Task Force was tasked with examining the implications arising from the EU/UK TCA for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it. Based on their deliberations, the Task Force was asked to outline initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing. The Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme reflects one of the Task Force's 16 recommendations.
The purpose of the scheme is to support inshore fishers as a sector adversely affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union, in particular by supporting job creation and protection in the sector and assisting inshore fishermen to continue to adapt their business models to the post Brexit environment. The scheme aims to achieve this objective by offering funding to the inshore sector to assist them in repurposing their business models to adjust to the negative impacts faced from market access, logistic difficulties and difficult trading conditions as well as supporting the sector in developing new plans and approaches to the market as a result of Brexit. Training was offered to assist the sector in adapting business and marketing plans to account for the new market forces and operating environment; providing them with the tools and technical knowhow to maximise economic return from their existing resource. In that context, the schemes purpose is not to offset or reduce Harbour Dues.
As Minister responsible for the management of the Fishery Harbour Centres, I have a responsibility to manage the Fishery Harbour Centre Fund into which income from the Fishery Harbour Centres is paid to provide for the operation, maintenance and delivery of customer services in the harbours. Within my Department, the Debt Recovery Unit, liaises with Fishery Harbour Centre customers who fall into arrear and makes every effort to engage with customers from the earliest stage possible in managing debts accrued and preventing further debt accrual.
In the case of the details supplied, the repayment of harbour dues is subject to a Court ordered payment plan and it is not appropriate for me to comment further.
