asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the plans, if any, his Department have for the development of aquaculture; the number of projects being examined for grant aid; and the number submitted to the EEC for grant aid during 1983.
Written Answers. - Aquaculture Development.
278.
The development of fish farming (aquaculture) around our coasts is a matter which has been and is the object of considerable attention by my Department in conjunction with other State bodies, in particular An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and the National Board for Science and Technology (NBST). Numerous surveys and tests have been carried out in many areas around the coast by scientists and marine biologists attached to the Fisheries Research Centre of my Department, BIM and the NBST. These activities will continue in accordance with my Department's plans for fish farming development, and will ensure that a great amount of data and advice is available on all aspects of fish farming to persons or bodies interested in engaging in this comparatively new and exciting sector of the fishing industry.
An aspect of the role of my Department in promoting the growth of this sector of the industry is the provision of grants for the development of fish farming projects around the coast. The grants scheme is administered by BIM and under the scheme, grants are available for both pilot and commercial scale projects, as follows: (a) pilot projects — grant assistance is related to capital expenditure on suitable projects subject to an upper limit of IR £20,000; (b) commercial projects — grants are available for up to 30 per cent of the capital expenditure involved.
In areas under its jurisdiction, Údarás na Gaeltachta operates a grant scheme under which grants of up to 60 per cent of capital expenditure are available for suitable fish farming projects.
Grant assistance from the EEC under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) is also available for suitable commercial scale projects and may be up to 50 per cent of capital costs.
One project only has been submitted to date for EEC grant aid under the recently agreed structures regulation. In addition five other projects, originally submitted in 1982, were awarded grants totalling IR £671,712, in July, 1983 under a previous regulation.
BIM have 22 projects under consideration at present.
Údarás na Gaeltachta have six projects under consideration at present, all in the Connemara area. These applications are at the negotiation stage.