Vol. 512 No. 8
6 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the grants, if any, available to applicants who wish to engage in fish farming and, in particular, the farming of wild salmon; if financial support is available in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27470/99]
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 and more than £7 million has been invested in the development of the farmed salmon sector.
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 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 OP, underlines the Government's recognition 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 BMW and S & E regions has significant further potential for sustainable development.
Together with the State agencies directly involved, BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Department will have an important role to play in ensuring 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 BMW and S & E 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.
I assure the Deputy that with grant aid of £25 million available to the aquaculture industry under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 the fish farming sector is well placed to deliver on the goals of critical mass, quality, sustainability diversification, technology and cost competitiveness.
