Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
280. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all moneys from the EMFF programme 2014-2020 were spent; if any monies unused were returned to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26870/23]
View answerMy Department’s Seafood Development Programme under EMFF 2014-2020 was adopted by the European Commission in 2015. It had a total budget of €240 million of which approximately 60% was funded by the EU while 40% came from national funding. The programme was the principal source of development funding for the seafood sector providing a range of support measures for fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing, directed at the industry and public bodies.
The implementation of the programme has been very successful to date. By year end 2022, approximately 98% of this EU funding had been committed, providing funding for more 3,300 operations, including grants for industry and funding for public interest projects. Over the course of 2023, I anticipate remaining funding to be utilised fully across a number of initiatives. In terms of support for industry, earlier this year, I announced the reopening of the Sustainable Fisheries Scheme Part B which will provide grants for onboard investments on fishing vessels, while I have also committed to providing funding for the Producer Organisation support scheme. A number of other key public projects are still ongoing with support from the programme, including enhancements to digital services and funding for marine science projects which will ensure the protection of our marine natural resources.
The EMFF Seafood Development Programme will close at year-end 2023, and is being succeeded by a new Seafood Development Programme under EMFAF 2021-2027. For this new programme, I secured increased funding of up to €258 million and implementation has already commenced. Combined with the significant commitment under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, this represents unprecedented investment in the sustainable development of our seafood sector and coastal communities.
