Vol. 384 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Marine the increase in employment he envisages in the seafood industry during the next three years; the sectors where this increase, if any, will materialise; and if there are proposals to finance any development that might take place.
20.
asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline his plans for the developing downstream industries associated with the fishing industry specifying, in particular, the amount of investment by the Exchequer, if any, involved; and whether he sees any role in this area for the National Development Corporation.
I propose to take Priority Question No. 58 and Question No. 20 together.
The Government have recently approved the new BIM development strategy for the seafish industry covering the period 1988-1991. This development strategy aims to bring about major expansion of the fishing, fish farming, fish processing and ancillary industry and in the process to generate 4,400 full and part-time jobs.
The breakdown of the proposed additional first time employment is as follows:
|
Aquaculture |
+2,140 |
|
Fishermen |
+ 800 |
|
Processing industry |
+1,040 |
|
Other ancillary industries |
+ 390 |
|
+4,370 |
To get this development strategy underway, the Government have allocated an additional £1.7 million to BIM in 1989 in respect of current and capital grant-in-aid. The board will also be in a position to commit funds forward up to 1991 in accordance with their development strategy.
The development strategy sets out the detailed policies to be applied for the development of the processing sector by the various State agencies concerned. Capital grants of up to 50 per cent are available from EC. Structural Funds and up to 25 per cent from the relevant State agencies, for suitable projects.
It is not possible at this stage to predict with any degree of certainty the precise outlay which will be required in this regard from Exchequer-financed sources. This will depend on the capital intensity etc. of the specific projects involved. Recent experience suggests that this outlay could be of the order of £6-£8 million which would be met as part of the total industrial promotions budgets of these State agencies.
NADCORP are already involved in the processing sector and will have my full support in further developing that role.
While we must welcome the pious aspirations of the Minister and his Department, one must be sceptical about the methods with which he intends to secure £61 million from the private sector for investment into this plan and £29 million from the EC for grant-in-aid. Would the Minister be specific in outlining exactly what is involved in relation to the £61 million, where it will come from and into what projects it will be invested?
The money will be invested in both aquaculture and vessels —I certainly do not have sufficient time to give a complete answer. My job is in the macro end and not so much in the micro end. I do not have the opportunity to answer the Deputy's question fully.
Microwaves.
I shall give the general picture. In aquaculture, where we have investment in vessels, we have stipulated in the programme that we are anxious to have 12 all-weather white fish vessels which can go to Rockall and the Porcupine Bank and bring back additional white fish which is necessary. We will also be concentrating very much on the non-quota species which are, blue whiting, horse mackerel, argentines. We shall try to ensure that as many fish as possible are processed for human consumption. By doing so there is the knock-on effect on processing onshore. I am quite confident that we can achieve this objective.
