Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
1119. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support for the three-year MX101 (Marine Experience101) "Island of Ireland" pilot programme with the Atlantic Youth Trust and National Maritime College of Ireland within Munster Technical University, in partnership with Atlantic Technical University and Ulster University; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1958/25]
View answerMy Department supports the provision of essential training and skills development for those working, or intending to work, in the Irish commercial seafood sector in a number of ways. My Department funds two National Fisheries Colleges of Ireland operated by our national seafood development agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), in addition to a range of other training and development supports provided by BIM such as mobile coastal training units, in-person workshops and online programmes. BIM also administer grant aid, funded by my Department under Ireland's Seafood Development Programme, which provides financial assistance to applicants wishing to pursue relevant courses, for example those provided by the Marine Survey Office (MSO). Full details in relation to this are available on www.bim.ie
In 2020, the ISO 9001:2015 Certification was awarded to BIM’s National Fisheries College of Ireland for the delivery of maritime training and education. Attaining this internationally recognised standard for quality management systems, ensures that prospective students can be certain any training they receive across all of BIM’s training sites will be of a consistently high standard. These accredited seafood training programmes and workshops are available across all sectors of the Irish seafood industry.
Neither my Department nor BIM have had any involvement to date in the development of the pilot programme being referred to. It is not possible to comment at this time as to whether or not any individuals intending to apply for this new course will be eligible to receive grant aid from BIM under the supports mentioned above, as the information required to determine this is not available to my Department or BIM at this time. It does not appear that this course is open to applications as yet.
In general, where those working, or intending to work, in Ireland's commercial seafood sector wish to apply for grant aid support to pursue a course which is not listed on the BIM website ( e.g. here BIM - Training), they should contact BIM directly, who consider such requests on a case by case basis.
