Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fishing Industry Resources.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

44 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has satisfied himself that the Irish fishing industry has sufficient resources to avail of maximum added value for their catch such as processing, access to export markets and other such factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the objective of ensuring that the Irish fishing industry can achieve maximum added value in relation to the national catch is and has been a major investment priority. Over the period 1982-1993 grant aid to the processing sector was of the order of £48 million of which Community funding amounted to over £35 million. It is estimated that this aid generated overall investment in the industry of more than £100 million over the period. The main objectives for the processing sector are: to increase scale of production in order to build a strong internationally competitive fish processing industry with optimum utilisation of raw materials available, including non-quota species; to encourage increased emphasis on value-added production; to develop new markets; to improve hygiene standards in line with EC requirements and to create sustainable employment.

It is estimated that fish processing sustains about 3,400 jobs in Ireland of which 1,750 are full time and 1,650 part time. The three operational programmes approved to date under the Community Support Framework 1991-1993 (CSF) are expected to create up to 500 extra jobs.

These additional jobs are expected to come on stream over the next two years. In addition, investment in upgrading of premises in compliance with EC Hygiene Directives, will ensure the long term preservation of 357 full time and 334 part time jobs and that access to foreign markets will not be impeded.

In prioritising projects, the main emphasis was on achieving greater scale, particularly in the area of value added products with the ultimate objective of maximising the number of jobs created.

The Deputy may also be aware that for the first time fisheries structural measures are to be integrated into the overall Structural Funds. This will significantly improve the existing arrangement in which funding for fisheries is treated completely separately from other structural measures and, indeed, is split under two distinct measures: Regulation 4028/86 for fleet, aquaculture and port facilities and Regulation 4042/89 for fish processing. It will mean greater efficiency in fisheries funding and will improve the ability of national authorities to frame plans covering a number of years and to tailor individual schemes to real needs.

Under the terms of the National Plan total investment in the processing sector is projected as being in the region of £38 million of which close to £15 million will be provided by way of EU and national funding. It is envisaged that around 800 additional jobs in the processing sector will be created over the period of the plan.