Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:40 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which it is planned to achieve Government targets for increased employment in aquaculture in 1993.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aquaculture Development.
Plans for the development of the aquaculture sector involve a target of some 1,100 additional jobs to be created in the period 1993-97.
There will also be a significant number of jobs created downstream in addedvalue processing and marketing and in the supplies and services area.
The projections for job creation are based on a proposed total investment of some £46 million over the period half of which will come from the private sector. Community funding plays a significant part in encouraging entrants to the aquaculture industry. The objective, therefore, is to maximise Community support with minimum enabling Exchequer funds to underpin investment in the sector and to achieve employment and production targets. I am confident that this objective will be reflected in the National Development Plan. This investment strategies is being complemented by strategies to develop a more efficient and cost effective industry structure; to improve marketing structures and opportunities and to enhance technical performance and quality awareness.
Work is underway to bring a significant proportion of identified projects and related jobs on-stream this year. Up to 100 concrete proposals, mostly in the shellfish sector, are being actively assessed by BIM in discussion with promoters and community based co-operatives.
Do I take it that no additional jobs have yet been created under this programme?
Additional jobs have been created but the projected jobs target, in the context of the Programme for a Partnership Government, is over the next four years. Application has been made for European funding to create employment in the aquaculture sector. That is the area in which we can create most jobs at present.
In the light of his reply, and the fact that further investment will be made in this sector, does the Government propose to change the method of considering applications for grants? For argument sake, will there be a greater role for local authorities in processing the recommendations attaching to Community type developments associated with the sea in their areas or will we have the same problem of a centralised decision-making process for Cohesion and Structural Fund grants? Will the Minister clarify if his Department will clear up the dispute which raises its head from time to time, whether the development of aquaculture is causing a lice infestation problem? Perhaps this problem could be dealt with once and for all without further damage being caused to the aquaculture sector?
I shall take the last part of the Deputy's question first. I am convinced that both aquaculture and wild fishing can survive together. I understand that the technical officials are convinced of that also. Certain restrictions will have to be made and regulations rigidly enforced. It goes without saying that if we want to have a healthy aquaculture industry we must have certain restrictions. I assure the Deputy that every aspect of that issue is being investigated to ensure that lice infestation is reduced to a minimum. I should say that the county enterprise boards will play a major role in the promotion of various projects which will come before the Department and will play a positive role in that aspect of job creation.
Can the Minister explain the reports of the disappearance of sea trout along the west coast? Is there a connection between this and the development of the aquaculture sector? I am not saying there is a direct link but one gets the impression that the conflict between the two sectors needs to be clarified, the proper professional advice given and made public so that people can understand.
I share the Deputy's concern in regard to sea lice infestation. There is no scientific link we are aware of that can connect both. While we are making every effort to identify whether there is a link I share the Deputy's concern that the public must be given the full facts. We intend to do that as soon as we have the scientific information at our disposal.
It was reported in the newspapers recently that the salmon cages along the sea coast have been attacked by seals causing quite a large number of salmon to escape. Perhaps the Minister would comment on that.
The escape the Deputy refers to was not caused by seals but by the propellers of a supply boat which was going out to the cages. This has now been rectified and I do not think it will happen again. There is activity by seals but that is not of particular concern at this stage.