Enda Kenny
Question:102 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the amount of Structural Funds he proposes to make available for the farmed salmon industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Farmed Salmon Industry.
There are no moneys available under the main EC Structural Funds (ERDF, ESF, FEOGA) for direct grant assistance to the farmed salmon industry.
Assistance is available however under EC Regulations 4028/86 and 4042/89. Allocations under these regulations is a matter for the European Commission within the framework of a multi-annual guidance programme submitted by the member state and approved by the Commission. The programme approved for Ireland for the period 1992-96 envisages Community financial support of up to £14 million for the development of the aquaculture sector (including farmed salmon) generally in Ireland. The level of support to be made available however in any one year and over the programme as a whole for any particular segment of the industry is contingent on the number of eligible individual projects submitted and approved. These cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty.