Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 6

Written Answers. - Access to Finance Scheme.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

324 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine the criteria required by fishermen who wish to avail of the access to finance scheme of the small business operational programme; and if he will make a statement on the accessibility in real terms of this scheme. [10161/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

All potential beneficiaries in the fisheries sector under the access to finance scheme must, in accordance with EU requirements, be certified by the Minister for the Marine as being in accordance with national and EU policies for the fisheries sector.

The principal activities seeking funding in the fisheries sector are the upgrading of fish processing premises and to a much lesser extent aquaculture projects and the refurbishment of fishing vessels.

In order to obtain approval, projects in these areas must not have benefited from funding under existing sub-measures of the Operational Programme for Fisheries. In addition the Minister for the Marine would, in certifying a project, have regard to the possible impact on conservation objectives in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy and in particular the impact of the development on fleet policy objectives. While to date a limited number of fisheries related applications have been received, it has been possible to certify the vast majority of the projects.

The Deputy will of course understand that the banks also assess the merits of proposals for funding in accordance with the normal commercial criteria and the commercial viability of some proposals may not be considered sufficient to justify the provision of loan finance. In addition, I understand that the participating banks have already received a large volume of applications for assistance under the scheme.