Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
240 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the slow uptake on the aquaculture development funding estimate provided on 31 December 2003 (details supplied); where funds were allocated; the present position of the fund; the plans he has to promote the fund. [29149/04]
View answerThe overall allocation of funding in the aquaculture development measures of the two regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan, NDP, 2000-2006 was €30.69 million on planned investment of €72.6 million. In the southern and eastern regional operational programme, 31 aquaculture projects have been approved for grant assistance of €10.4 million since the commencement of the programme on total investment of €23.36 million. These commitments were entered into in September 2001, April 2002, April and September 2003 and July 2004.
In the Border, midland and western regional operational programme, 66 aquaculture projects have been approved for grant assistance of €18.45 million since the commencement of the programme on total investment of €44.3 million. These commitments were entered into in October 2001, April 2002, April and September 2003 and July 2004.
The total commitments of public funding in the aquaculture development measure at national level is, allowing for de-commitments, estimated to be in the region of 83% in the southern and eastern region and 90% in the Border, midland and western region. The next call for aquaculture project applications will be made in early 2005. The total payments of NDP grants to aquaculture projects in 2003 amounted to €3.620 million. Payment of grants in any year depends on actual expenditure incurred by final beneficiaries.
