Vol. 429 No. 3
161 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of the assistance given by BIM to a company (details supplied) in County Louth; whether it is proposed to offer similar assistance to other companies in the same business; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The company in question has been approved by BIM for grant aid totalling £33,602 under the board's resource development grant scheme. The scheme, which forms part of the board's pilot aquaculture grants scheme, provides for grant aid towards novel aquaculture projects. Under the scheme grant aid is available at a rate of 50 per cent of eligible expenditure. The scheme aims to finance feasibility studies and rearing projects involving the cultivation of novel aquaculture species and/or rearing methods. Results are made known to the industry. Grant aid under this scheme would not be available to a second operator in respect of a similar proposal. However, any such application would be eligible for assistance under the board's aquaculture grants scheme.
