I propose to take Priority Question No. 58 and Question No. 20 together.
The Government have recently approved the new BIM development strategy for the seafish industry covering the period 1988-1991. This development strategy aims to bring about major expansion of the fishing, fish farming, fish processing and ancillary industry and in the process to generate 4,400 full and part-time jobs.
The breakdown of the proposed additional first time employment is as follows:
Aquaculture
|
+2,140
|
Fishermen
|
+ 800
|
Processing industry
|
+1,040
|
Other ancillary industries
|
+ 390
|
|
+4,370
|
To get this development strategy underway, the Government have allocated an additional £1.7 million to BIM in 1989 in respect of current and capital grant-in-aid. The board will also be in a position to commit funds forward up to 1991 in accordance with their development strategy.
The development strategy sets out the detailed policies to be applied for the development of the processing sector by the various State agencies concerned. Capital grants of up to 50 per cent are available from EC. Structural Funds and up to 25 per cent from the relevant State agencies, for suitable projects.
It is not possible at this stage to predict with any degree of certainty the precise outlay which will be required in this regard from Exchequer-financed sources. This will depend on the capital intensity etc. of the specific projects involved. Recent experience suggests that this outlay could be of the order of £6-£8 million which would be met as part of the total industrial promotions budgets of these State agencies.
NADCORP are already involved in the processing sector and will have my full support in further developing that role.