Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
355. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence if additional funding has been requested from the EU for the Naval Service to support patrolling Irish territorial waters in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40303/20]
View answerMy Department has not requested any additional funding from the EU for the Naval Service in the context of Brexit. However, my Department does apply for appropriate EU funding opportunities in support of the Defence Forces as and when they arise. My Department has secured approval in principle for EU funding available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme (2014-2020) for a number of relevant projects, including projects specifically linked to Naval Service capabilities and operations.
Almost €14 million is available from the four projects, which my Department has been approved in principle for, subject to agreed conditions. The table below provides a brief description of each project and the amount of funding available.
|
Project Name |
Funding applied for and approved |
|
Upgrade of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) |
€ 9,000,000 |
|
Training for new MPA |
€ 675,000 |
|
Upgrade of Fishery Monitoring Centre IT system |
€ 1,300,000 |
|
Support of Specific Species Control and Inspection Programmes |
€ 3,000,000 |
