Vol. 484 No. 4
41 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of vessels in the whitefish fleet that still require modernisation in order to enhance their safety; if he will identify what the cost will be in this regard; the balance of funding remaining under the operational programme for fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22104/97]
50 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress, if any, he has made in obtaining further EU assistance for the modernisation of the white fish fleet. [22240/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 50 together.
The Government's Action Programme for the Millennium, commits to modernising the fishing fleet, and since my appointment as Minister I have been working to deliver on that commitment. I recently announced a new round of Exchequer and EU supported investment of £11 million in the modernisation of the fishing fleet. The package provides some £3.5 million in EU and Exchequer grant aid for 112 fleet modernisation projects under Ireland's Operational Programme for Fisheries. This investment is aimed primarily at the whitefish fleet to enhance safety, in particular, as well as quality and competitiveness in the sector.
In addition to my plans for a capital grant aid scheme to assist with the investment for a number of new whitefish boats, I am pursuing other options to facilitate and attract investment in the fleet, in line with an Action Programme for the Millennium which gives a specific commitment to making the industry attractive to providers of capital by examining the provision of fiscal incentives. My aim in progressing the various initiatives which I have outlined is to achieve a significant turnaround of the whitefish fleet.
Almost £40 million of the total EU aid of £63 million available under the Operational Programme for Fisheries, 1994-1999 has been committed to date. There is some £6 million in EU aid remaining for the fleet measure under the programme up to 1999. I will be reviewing priorities for upgrading and modernising the fleet in order to effect the optimum return from the remaining grant aid available. I can assure the Deputies that the requirements of the whitefish fleet will be a significant factor in determining such priorities.
