Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU PESCA Funding.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

61 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine the efforts, if any, he has made to press Ireland's case for a major portion of PESCA under the new community initiatives for the period 1994 to 1999; and the extent PESCA funding will have on our Irish fishing industry.

Frank Crowley

Ceist:

63 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for the Marine the expected Irish allocation under the EU PESCA programme; and if he will ensure that all coastal communities will have access to this funding.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

81 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals if any, to be taken under the PESCA initiative; the range and extent of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 63 and 81 together.

The PESCA programme is a European Union funding initiative aimed specifically at the fisheries sector. The programme was launched in February as part of the Union'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 contribute to the socio-economic survival of regions dependent on fisheries through the development of job-creating measures. Some ECU250 million have been set aside for PESCA over the period 1994-1999.

The specific elements of the programme have not yet been ironed out but I understand that aid will be available for a range of measures, including diversification into other activities such as tourism, setting up new businesses, employment measures, including training, facilitation of access to capital for new enterprises and projects in fisheries management, promotions and marketing.

It is hoped that the programme will be finalised and published sometime in June this year. In the meantime, the Commission is consulting with member states in regard to the detailed guidelines and funding allocations under the initiative.

No decisions have yet been taken on the allocation of the funding to member states. I can assure Deputies that Ireland is pressing for the highest possible allocation under the programme.

In order to generate interest and encourage the submission of concrete and innovative projects for implementation at local level, the European Commission will give widespread publicity to the initiative and in particular, will organise a series of information presentations in coastal regions over the next month or two.

It is expected that applications for assistance will be sought during the autumn of 1994. The Department will consider applications from all interested parties, in particular from island and coastal communities.