asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the grants available for fish farming and mariculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Fish Farming and Mariculture.
352.
A grants scheme for marine fish farming is operated by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara and under that scheme grants are available for both pilot and commercial scale projects as follows:
(a) Pilot Projects—grant assistance is related to capital expenditure on suitable projects subject to an upper limit of IR£20,000.
(b) Commercial Projects—grants are available for up to 30 per cent of the capital expenditure involved.
In areas under its jurisdiction Údarás na Gaeltachta administers a scheme under which grants of up to 60 per cent of capital expenditure are available for suitable fish farming projects. Grant assistance of up to 50 per cent of capital costs is also available from the EEC under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) for suitable commercial scale projects.
For freshwater fish farming, grants are available towards the establishment costs of fish farms to qualified applicants under the farm modernisation scheme, details of which are available from the chief agricultural officer of ACOT of the area in which it is proposed to set up the farm. For the construction of fish farms in the "Twelve Western Counties" grants are available from the Western Development Fund, which is administered by the Department of Finance through the central development committee.