Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
284. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he and his Department have taken and will take to prioritise traditional coastal communities, as per a commitment in the most recent election manifesto of a political party (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26874/23]
View answerThe approach to developing our Coastal Communities has been multifaceted with considerable investment being made over the past number of years and commitments made for ongoing support into the future. Community Led Local Development has been a key aspect of my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme. Under this, €12 million was made available to Fisheries Local Action Groups to deliver funding for entrepreneurial activities and community initiatives. The emphasis on this funding continued under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve with €25 million being made available for the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme. Continued funding for community led local development has also been committed to in the new EMFAF Seafood Development Programme. These supports combined are ensuring ongoing opportunities for job creation and development of community initiatives within coastal areas.
In addition to this, I have launched an ambitious programme of harbour infrastructure investment through the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme. Up to €55.3 million in funding has been provided to develop and enhance public marine facilities, which will provide key infrastructure for both business and leisure activities.
The lifeblood of many coastal communities is the seafood sector. Through the Seafood Development Programmes and Brexit Adjustment Reserve schemes, there has been considerable investment in fisheries and other parts of the seafood supply chain ensuring the creation of sustainable job opportunities. This has included, but not been limited to investment in fishing vessels, assistance for younger fishers to acquire fishing vessels, capital supports for aquaculture and seafood processing and short term supports to assist the seafood sector and coastal communities overcome disruptive international events such as Brexit. Support has also been provided for small scale coastal fisheries under these programmes, including facilitating the formation of new producer organisations which will ensure the development of this important segment of the fleet.
This has all been done in the context of sustainability and while this has been a key focus of funding delivered to the seafood sector, support has also been provided for projects which protect our marine based natural resources and ensure that these resources are available for future generations.
