Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
281. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if help is provided by his Department to help fishermen set up an export company to export Irish fish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2004/14]
View answerThe Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme operated by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) provides grant assistance of up to 30% to seafood processing enterprises towards the cost of construction, extension, equipment and modernisation. Article 35 of Council Regulation 1198/2006 specifies certain objectives that projects must meet to be eligible for funding. These include improving working conditions, hygiene, product quality, reducing negative impacts on the environment, producing products for niche markets, marketing products originating from local landings and producing or marketing new products, applying new technologies or developing innovative production methods. The Scheme is competitive and projects are scored against certain standard criteria intended to assist in assessing the quality of projects and their promoters. Further details are available from BIM.
Alternatively, the proposed project may be eligible for assistance from the applicant’s Fisheries Local Action Group. There are six FLAGs nationwide and the FLAG North East covers the Deputy’s constituency. FLAGs may provide grant aid of up to 40% to private projects that meet the objectives of the FLAG’s development strategy for its area. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Successful projects will address one or more of the following priorities, i.e. maintain and support jobs, add value to fisheries and aquaculture products, support diversification, support economic and social restructuring of areas facing difficulties as a result of changes in the fisheries sector, enhance economic and social prosperity or promote the quality of the coastal environment. Projects must be located no more than 10 kilometres from the sea and towns and cities with a population of more than 15,000 are excluded. Further details are available from BIM.
Depending on the nature of the project, other more appropriate supports may be available from Enterprise Ireland.
