Written Answers. - Technical Assistance Costs.
John Bruton
Ceist:
277
Mr. J. Bruton
asked the
Minister for the Marine
the detailed terms and conditions under which his Department received technical assistance amounting to £106,572; if he will give details of each project for which it was used; if a copy of the study or studies carried out was supplied to the European Commission; if a copy is available for inspection by members of the public; and, if not, the reason therefor.
[150/94]
As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy's question of 29 June this year, two research projects received funding under the Community Support Framework (CSF) for Fish Processing and Marketing. Under the CSF up to 1 per cent of total funding may be spent on technical assistance.
The projects which received assistance were:
(a) A consultancy study commissioned by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara on guidelines for best practice in relation to the location and design parameters of shore based facilities for the handling and depuration of shellfish. The cost of the study was £46,827 attracting CSF funding of £21,072.
The need for the study arose from the requirements of certain Council Directives in relation to the operation of the shellfish industry. The Directives set out health conditions for the production and placing on the market of live bi-valve molluscs which will require the creation of numerous covered dispatch and purification centres.
The resultant guidelines will assist local authorities and An Bord Pleanála in deciding on planning permission approvals in these cases. The guidelines will also be of considerable assistance to producers in preparing proposals for such facilities.
(b) A research and development project was undertaken by Chamco Seafoods Limited, a private company, into improved product shelf life, marketing, packaging and other production factors and enabled the recruitment of five staff at the company's on site laboratory. The research will underpin the development of new product lines and the improvement of existing products. CSF assistance for the project amounted to £85,500.
Copies of both studies have been forwarded to the European Commission. Members of the public requiring copies of the reports should contact Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire or Chamco Seafoods, The Food Centre, Raheen, County Limerick.
