Vol. 441 No. 1
117 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine whether he will arrange to have full consultation with those from the islands and coastal communities on the details of the PESCA programme; the consultative process proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The PESCA programme is a Community funding initiative aimed specifically at the fisheries sector. The programme was launched in February as part of the Community's response to the structural changes in the fishing industry brought about as a consequence of a number of factors, including global fleet reductions, the ongoing instability on the markets and the possible enlargement of the union. These factors have serious implications for regions which are predominantly or entirely dependent on fisheries to support their local economy.
The aims of PESCA are to help the fishing industry overcome these difficulties and so to contribute to the socioeconomic survival of regions dependent on fisheries through the development of job-creating measures. Some ECU250 million has been set aside for PESCA over the period 1994-99.
The specific elements of the programme have not yet been ironed out but I understand that aid will be available for, inter alia, diversification into other activities such as tourism and measures which help create or maintain employment in such regions.
