James Leonard
Question:963 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Marine the amount of funding allocated in 1995 and to date in 1996 for fishery projects in County Monaghan; and the projects which have benefited from this funding. [15163/96]
Written Answers. - Monaghan Fisheries Funding.
The tourism angling measure of the operational programme for tourism provides for total investment of almost £19 million in the development of the tourism angling product over five years. I have already announced some 54 projects, involving total expenditure of almost £7.7 million, under this measure. No projects have been approved to date in County Monaghan.
Indicative investment of almost £4 million in the Border region, including the Monaghan area, has been provided for under the tourism angling measure. The extent to which this indicative investment is realised will depend on the number, eligibility and quality of projects submitted. I understand at least three projects in the Monaghan area are undergoing preliminary evaluation and assessment at present.
Following previous inquiries by the Deputy I asked the Central Fisheries Board, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the tourism angling measure, to advise the Deputy directly about application on hand in relation to projects in the Cavan/ Monaghan area. I have now asked the board to contact the Deputy in relation to current applications in the Monaghan area.
Scope for significant investment in the Monaghan area, and in the Border region generally, also exists under the fisheries measures of the INTERREG programme 1994 to 1999, under which £2.5 million has been made available, and under the special support programme for peace and reconciliation under which almost £1.3 million has been provided in respect of co-operative actions in fishing and aquaculture.
I understand that the agriculture, fisheries and forestry working group of the INTERREG II programme has decided to support a major inland fisheries project in the Cavan/Leitrim area and that a formal announcement in this regard can be made as soon as certain financial arrangements associated with the programme have been finalised. I also understand that a number of other applications submitted for funding under the fisheries measures of that programme are undergoing evaluation at present.
The first tranche of applications under the fisheries measure of the special support programme for peace and reconciliation will be assessed and decided upon late this year.