Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
332. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4700/21]
View answerMy Department's €239 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of development funding for the fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processors sectors and for the socio-economic development and economic diversification of coastal communities traditionally dependent on fisheries through the seven EMFF Fisheries Local Action Groups. The Programme also funds control and enforcement of the CFP, our EU Data Collection responsibilities, marine biodiversity protection and some elements the Integrated Maritime Policy, such as marine knowledge and marine spatial planning. The Programme is implemented through a suite of 18 individual schemes, most of which are implemented through Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with further details available at www.bim.ie/schemes.
The EMFF Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Of the €239 million budget, the EU is contributing €147.6 million. The EU funds are made available to Ireland in several distinct envelopes. Some €37.2 million is allocated to Ireland solely for investment in control and enforcement. With national co-funding, this accounts for approximately €44 million of the Programme budget. A further €32.6 million is allocated to Ireland solely for investment in EU Data Collection and with national co-funding, accounts for approximately €40 million of the Programme budget. Lastly, some €5.3 million was allocated to Ireland solely for investment in measures to support the integrated maritime policy (such as marine spatial planning) and with national co-funding, this accounts for approximately €10.6 million. Each of these three dedicated envelopes relate to areas that, prior to the EMFF, were funded directly by the European Commission. The EMFF changed this process so that these funds, at a greatly increased level, were allocated to Member States, giving Member States much greater control of investment in these areas. This investment is essential for the sustainable growth of our seafood sector.
The balance of the EU allocation to Ireland of €72.5 million, with matching co-funding from the Government of Ireland, means that €145 million approximately, or 61% approximately of the Programme budget, is distributed across a range of support schemes, mostly implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Details of all beneficiaries of the EMFF Programme, together with copies of the EMFF Programme Annual Reports and Citizen summaries, are publicly available at the following link -
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4b81-european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-2014-2020/?referrer=http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/emff/.
