asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the adequacy of the submission made in the National Development Plan 1989-1993 recently submitted to the European Commission on fisheries/aquaculture and port development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fisheries/Aquaculture and Port Development.
1.
I have of course already made a major statement to this House on the matter on 14 April in the course of the general debate on the National Development Plan.
I am, however, glad of this opportunity to outline again for Deputies the broad content of the plan in so far as it relates to the affairs of the Department of the Marine.
The plan embraces all the major economic responsibilities of the Department of the Marine. It covers sea fishing, fish processing, aquaculture, and fishery harbours. It contains a major programme of development for commercial ports and harbours and shipping. Under the tourism aspect there will be every opportunity for the development of viable marina and angling projects.
Total investment in the sea fisheries and aquaculture programmes could be up to £150 million over the period of the plan. Significant additional funding has already been provided from our own resources in the 1989 budget. This funding will be complemented by receipts from the Community under existing facilities. The sea fisheries aquaculture sector has been dealt with in detail in the recently published BIM Development Strategy.
Total investment of the order of £45 million will take place in fish processing over the period of the development plan. Of this, assistance of about £20 million will be sought from the EC.
Suitable marine related tourism projects — such as marina and angling projects — will be assisted under the tourism aspect of the plan. Over the period of the plan investment of over £300 million will be devoted to tourism projects. Of this more than £160 million in aid will be sought from the EC.
In relation to port development, the National Development Plan recognised the importance of ports to the Irish economy and the need to achieve faster transit times to Britain and mainland Europe. The document submitted to the European Commission stated that proposals have been prepared by the Government for the development of the main Irish commercial ports. The estimated total cost of the proposed investments outlined in the plan will be about £72 million.
A variety of different types of shipping projects will be assisted under the plan. The plan contains provision for expenditure of up to £65 million over the period.
A programme for fisheries harbours development was outlined in the plan also. The programme is designed to provide adequate infrastructure at carefully selected harbours. The total investment envisaged is £19 million over the plan period.
I believe that the Structural Funding sought under the plan, together with the funding available from existing facilities for sea fishing and aquaculture will underpin in a significant way the development of all marine industries.
I am asking if the Minister is satisfied with the submission which was made to Europe on 22 March in relation to the section dealing with fisheries and harbour development. Is the Minister satisfied that half a page in this submission is sufficient to impress on Europe the importance of the fishing industry to Ireland and the necessity to develop our fishing harbours? I put this question because I am extremely concerned at the inadequacy of the submission made in the overall plan. Will the Minister elaborate on how this submission will convince the powers that be in Europe that there is a need to make substantial funding available under the Structural Funds for fishery and harbour development? Will the Minister elaborate on the importance of developing our harbours — since we are the only country in the EC which will not have land access to the European market — equipping them so as to ensure that there will be effective and efficient transportation of goods from this country, especially since over 80 per cent of our goods——
I had hoped for brevity, having regard to the obligation to dispose of four questions.
It is important——
It is a very long question.
It is important that the Minister should answer to this House as to how he intends to convey to Europe the importance of fast transportation, given the lack of developed ports in the country, and the necessity for——
The Deputy has made her point.
I would like a specific answer rather than a statement of intent.
Perhaps if the Deputy put down a specific question I would be in a better position to give her a specific answer.
There is a specific question but you have not given a specific answer.
I availed of the opportunity here on 14 April to make a comprehensive statement on the economic plan. I am not sure if the Deputy even availed of that opportunity to speak——
We have heard all the statements.
——and to make a contribution on the plan, but that is a matter for the Deputy. However, I availed of the opportunity to circulate a document, as I did not have the opportunity to elaborate in the time available to me here, setting out in a broad general way the purpose of the plan and the desirability of working closely with the industry to ensure that the plan is fully implemented. As the Deputy is well aware, the plan is a broad outline document setting down priority areas and it is quite specific in certain areas. In the area of responsibility of the Department of the Marine, I have already again today outlined the broad thrust of the plan and where we hope to make major and significant improvements in the infrastructure, not only for sea ports but also in the fishing ports. A sum of £19 million over the period of the plan is a realistic sum which will make a major contribution to the provision of infrastructure that will help the fishing industry to develop further.
I will allow the Deputy a brief question, as I want to dispose of the other questions as well.
If the Minister believes in being specific, will he outline how the following statement, and I quote——
I am sorry, Deputy Taylor-Quinn, but you should know that it is not in order to quote at Question Time.
Is a submission that actually states that investment in the aquaculture and fishery programmes could be up to £150 million specific? How does the Minister intend being specific in Europe? This is not specific. The Minister has a duty to be specific in this House and in submissions made to Europe.
I endeavoured, in the statement I made to the House, to give detailed and specific figures for investment in various sectors. I have also endeavoured in the course of this reply to indicate precisely how we hope to achieve that. In relation to fisheries development generally, all Deputies will agree with the necessity for some investment in fishery harbour infrastructure, to enable the industry to prosper and develop. We have plans on hand for the development of the large fishing harbour areas, such as Rossaveal. A new development plan recently got underway in Dingle with £5 million being invested there. We have work in hands in Killybegs, Greencastle, Kilmore Quay, Clogher Head, Burtonport and a number of other smaller harbours like the one down near the Deputy in Carrigaholt. We are not neglecting the smaller harbours either. The purpose of this investment is to provide additional space and berthage in harbours especially where there is overcrowding, to enlarge and deepen basins where there are problems with silt which has built up over a long number of years, and to dredge approach channels, install lifting platforms and generally improve the infrastructure, such as ice facilities. I would refer the Deputy to the fisheries development plan of BIM——
More pie in the sky, Minister.
——which has already been announced, which is specific and detailed and which spells out precisely where the jobs are being created and where we hope to create 4,500 jobs during the period of the plan.