Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 5

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Derek McDowell

Question:

73 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the projects in the national development plan for which funding has been provided as part of the 2002 Abridged Estimates or announced in the Budget Statement; the level of funding provided; the nature of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32359/01]

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

The post-budget allocation for marine and natural resources in 2002 is £242 million or 307 million. While final allocations in respect of the 38 NDP programmes which come within the aegis of my Department have yet to be finalised, it is estimated, on the basis of the indicative requirements submitted to date, that £150 million or 191 million of the 2002 post-budget allocation will be allocated to these programmes. My Department is currently assessing our NDP and other requirements next year with a view to identifying priorities and associated budgetary requirements. Details of the final allocations to be made within the overall post-budget envelope will be available in the revised Estimates for 2002 which will be published early next year.

Almost £80 million or 101 million will be required in 2002 to support investment under the NDP forestry programmes. The majority of this funding will provide for forestry planting and maintenance grants and income premiums with some £13 million or 16.5 million being earmarked for woodland improvement, harvesting, forest roads, forestry training and forestry RTDI. The recent budget provided for additional investment of almost £16 million or 20 million in fishery harbour infrastructure in 2002. This brings total planned investment next year under this programme to almost £27 million or 34 million. The programme of works for 2002 is being drawn up by my Department and the 2002 fishery harbour development programme will be announced in early 2002.

The Abridged Estimates provision for coast protection works in 2002 is £4.7 million or 6 million. In October 2001, my Department requested coastal local authorities to submit priority proposals for consideration in the context of the 2002 coast protection programme. These proposals are under consideration at present and a programme of works for 2002 is being drawn up. The 2002 coast protection programme will be announced early in the new year.

Indicative public investment next year under the NDP seafood measures, including fleet development, aquaculture, seafood processing, training and marketing, will amount to almost £14 million or 18 million. The indicative allocation of almost £2 million or 2.5 million for seafood marketing will support the continuation of BIM's trade, market development and consumer support initiatives while BIM's seafood training programme will receive funding of over £1 million or 1.3 million. Indicative funding of over £6.5 million or 8.5 million is earmarked in 2002 for fleet renewal and modernisation, fisheries supporting measures and seafood processing in respect of which I expect to be in a position to make project announcements early next year. Funding of the order of £3.5 million or 4 million will be made available in 2002 to support aquaculture development. The first tranche of 22 projects under this scheme was announced in September this year.

The Abridged Estimates allocation for marine research in 2002 is almost £22.5 million or 29 million. My Department is in discussion with the Marine Institute with a view to identifying the proportion of that allocation which will be required to support the NDP marine RTDI measures. It is estimated that £7.6 million or 9.7 million will be required next year to fund the final payments on the new, state-of-the-art marine research vessel while some funding will be required to roll-out the marine RTDI fund and marine laboratory infrastructure initiatives. Indicative funding of £9 million or 11.4 million has been allocated for the seaports measure of the NDP in 2002. I am currently considering recommendations on the allocation of funds to projects and expect to make an announcement in the near future.

Finally, EU state aid approval has been granted in respect of all tourism schemes under the NDP. Arrangements are now under way to put in place the two tourism schemes which come within my Department's responsibility, namely, the marine tourism measure and the tourism and recreational angling measure. Calls for application under these schemes will be made in due course. The indicative allocation for marine and angling tourism in general in 2002 is almost £4 million or 5 million. The final allocations for 2002 in respect of the two NDP schemes will be made once the measures have been put in place.