P. J. Sheehan
Question:21 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to promote and expand the aquaculture and mariculture industries under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. [24657/99]
Written Answers. - Aquaculture Development.
The development of the aquaculture sector, has been underpinned by the Government and EU funding support from the start. Since 1994 under the current Operational Programme for Fisheries, some £11 million has been invested in the development and modernisation of aquaculture.
As the sector moves into the new critical phase of expanding to critical mass over the period of the national development plan 2000-2006, £25 million of EU and Exchequer funding has been allocated under the regional programmes to ensuring that strategic objectives and targets to be set for the sector will be met. This exceptional investment support, over double the support provided in the current operational programme, underlines the Government's, and my, recognit ion of and commitment to the sector as a sustainable, natural resource based industry able to secure much needed quality jobs in rural, coastal and peripheral areas. As the national development plan points out, aquaculture production in both the Border, midlands, western and southern and eastern regions has significant further potential for sustainable development.
Together with the State agencies directly involved, BIM and Údaras na Gaeltachta, the Department will have an important role to play in ensuring that the objective of balanced regional development is delivered in aquaculture via the management role assigned to it in the inter-regional operational programmes. Given the lead role for the regional operational programmes assigned to the proposed new regional assemblies for the border, midlands, western and southern and eastern regions, I look forward to co-operating fully with those bodies in taking forward a new framework strategic plan which will be developed in partnership with the industry.
In this regard, I intend to publish very shortly the CIRCA report – a major strategic review of the aquaculture sector – which is currently being finalised. This report will be another key input into the strategic plan. Briefly at this juncture I would envisage that investment and other support strategies under the national development plan 2000-2006 will be targeted to maintain the momentum of the current operational programme and to deliver on the goals of critical mass, quality, sustainability, diversification, technology and cost competitiveness.