John Perry
Question:101 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for future investment and development strategies for the fishing industry. [24855/01]
Written Answers. - Fishing Industry Development.
Comprehensive investment and development strategies for the seafood sector have been clearly set out under the national development plan framework. The various measures arise under a number of operational programmes. I am forwarding to the Deputy our publication giving details of all the marine and natural resources measures including those for the seafood sector.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:102 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in putting in place the processing sub-measures for the fishing industry under the National Development Plan 2000-2006; his views on whether investment decisions have been delayed pending such measures; and if he will ensure there is no further delay in the matter. [28911/01]
Under the national development plan, £25 million has been allocated to support radical redevelopment of the Irish seafood processing sector up to 2006.
An analysis of the sector was commissioned last year from Indecon-PricewaterhouseCoopers, which identified the overall way forward for the development of the sector. The detailed strategies required to underpin the development of the sector through the NDP investment programme are being finalised by my Department, BIM, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The priority objective at this point is to ensure the unprecedented level of investment support under the NDP delivers in full on the objectives of quality, innovation, scale, competitiveness and value for the Irish seafood processing sector.
A date for the launch of the scheme will be set as soon as the investment strategies have been finalised and approved. I intend to ensure the scheme will facilitate focused investments leading to significant development of the seafood processing sector.