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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 4

Written Answers. - Marine and Natural Resources.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

107 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress made to date regarding the implementation of the elements of the national development plan relating to marine and natural resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28936/01]

Investment of almost £1.3 billion, 1.7 billion, has been provided for under the NDP 2000-2006 in respect of the marine and natural resources sectors. This investment is spread across some 38 measures under the sectoral operational programmes, the two regional programmes, the Common Agricultural Policy rural development plan and the cross-Border initiatives.

The prolonged process of finalising the operational programmes and programme complements, the impact of the foot and mouth disease crisis and delays in EU state aid clearance have impacted on the roll-out of a number of NDP measures. However, significant progress on a range of marine and natural resources programmes has already been made and all measures will be up and running in 2002.

Investment to the end of this year under the £720 million, 914 million, forestry programme will be of the order of £140 million, 178 million. This investment is supporting planting, the improvement of existing woodlands, the development of urban and amenity woodlands, the re-establishment of forest plantations and the enhancement in general of forest infrastructure.

More than £338 million, 430 million, is being invested in the seafood sector over the period of the plan. Investment will support the continued modernisation of the whitefish and inshore fish ing fleets, restructuring and diversification, seafood marketing and promotion initiatives, seafood training, seafood processing, the development of the aquaculture industry and improvement of fishery harbour infrastructure.
The first tranche of approved investment under the £57 million, 73 million, aquaculture programme was announced recently while by the end of this year almost £30 million, 38 million, will have been invested in our fishery harbour infrastructure out of a total planned investment of £66 million, 84 million. By the end of this year, £13 million, 16.38 million, of a planned investment of £42 million, 52.9 million, under the coastal protection programme will have been achieved.
The £42 million, 53 million, investment programme in marine RTDI is well under way and will deliver next year a new state-of-the art research vessel at a cost of almost £25 million, 32 million.
A total of £61 million, 77 million, has been provided in the national development plan in respect of marine and angling tourism. Following a recent EU state aid approval for the NDP tourism measure generally and with specific state aid approval for the angling measures expected shortly, these programmes will be launched shortly.
I also expect to announce shortly the first tranche of investment under the £121 million, 153 million, seaports programme.
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