Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding that will be spent in 2024 out of the Brexit compensation fund for the fishing industry; when details of the various schemes will be finalised and announced; the agency or agencies that will administer the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8502/24]
View answerI established the Seafood Sector Task Force in March 2021 to examine the impacts of Brexit/the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on our fishing sector and coastal communities. Support schemes were developed in line with the recommendations set out in the Seafood Task Force report of October 2021 so as to ensure a profitable and sustainable fishing fleet, and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing.
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) fund contributed €305.5m from 2021 to the end of 2023 in funding, to deliver on the recommendations of the Seafood Taskforce. The schemes operated under BAR were designed to support the sector to adapt, diversify and engage in sustainable practices, mitigating some of the impacts of Brexit.
The term of the BAR fund expired on 31 December 2023. Although there is some flexibility in the operation of a small number of schemes funded under BAR in terms of expenditure having applied before 31 December 2023 for some projects that will be delivered in 2024, it is important to clarify that no new support measures for the seafood sector may be funded under BAR from 01 January 2024. While Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency, is administering the majority of the schemes on behalf of my Department, the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme is administered by my Department, although each local authority is responsible for governance and delivery of its own projects. Further information is available at: bim.ie and gov.ie.
Beyond the BAR, support measures will be funded under my Department’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Seafood Development Programme which is commencing its implementation. This €258 million programme will continue to provide a wide range of supports for fishers and the wider development of the seafood sector.
