Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 4

Written Answers. - Marine Sector.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

86 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the current position in relation to the Donegal marine action development plan arising from the Conference on Investment and Employment Opportunities in the Marine Sector in County Donegal and published in March 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28837/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

I would like to assure the Deputy that further measures to build on the potential of Donegal's marine sector are being taken by my Department, including work on the extension to the National Fisheries Training Centre at Greencastle recently completed, which included State investment of £974,000; funding was allocated for investment of over £5 million in harbour developments in County Donegal this year; the development of new berthage facilities at Killybegs is progressing, with investment estimated in the order of £35 million; since March 1999, aquaculture licences have been granted for shellfish operations in North County Donegal, mostly in Lough Swilly, with the prospect of creating about 100 jobs over three to five years. Aquaculture licensing decisions have also been made, currently under appeal to the independent statutory Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, in relation to expansion of salmon farming operations in Mulroy Bay, at Glinsk, and in Lough Swilly, at Binnaweelmore and Callagh.

During 2000, four fishing vessels from County Donegal participated in deepwater fishing trials, receiving total current funding of £196,126 and capital funding of £66,606. Five other fishing vessels received capital funding of £49,765 for gear associated with technical conservation measures work and other gear technology projects. In addition, throughout the year, as a result of BIM funded fishing technology projects, ancillary industries in County Donegal, including the gear manufacturers, ships chandlerys and marine electronics firms, received £345,884.

Vessel projects approved in 1999-2000 for Donegal were as follows:

Measure	No.	Investment	EU	BIM
		£ million	£ million	£ million
New Vessels	15	29.294	2.723	3.404
Safety	105	1.164	0.502	0.056
Modernisation	10	1.588	0.237	0.059

Further to the Marine Institute report entitled "A Framework for the Development of Tourism and Leisure on the Marine and Inland Waterways of County Donegal", the Donegal County Development Board has decided to set up a marine development leisure forum. It is intended that a co-ordinator for this forum will be employed for a three year period, starting in January 2001. The intention is that this co-ordinator, advised by the forum and operating under the auspices of Donegal County Development Board, will work to implement the measures recommended in the Marine Institute report and to ensure that the sector is developed to its greatest possible potential in County Donegal. This post is being jointly funded by the Northern Regional Fisheries Board, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Donegal County Council and the Marine Institute.