Tony Killeen
Question:136 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for the Marine the reason for the delay in announcing grant aid under the PESCA funding initiative. [10511/96]
Written Answers. - EU PESCA Community Initiative.
Tony Killeen
Question:137 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for the Marine when grant aid announcements under the PESCA initiative will be made. [10512/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
I expect to be in a position to approve a round of projects under the EU PESCA Community Initiative 1994-99 in the near future.
The Department of the Marine is currently finalising consideration of the projects recommended by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). A large number of applications was received by BIM in respect of this round under the PESCA Initiative. The proposals cover a range of activities which reflect the application and use to which PESCA can be put to assist fishing communities and to encourage diversification. These projects required detailed evaluation. A number of the applications were ineligible, others require further development and some have been withdrawn. However, the process is now near completion and I expect that a significant number of projects will be approved.