Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:146 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his response to the Donegal task force report which was presented in June 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18911/99]
Vol. 508 No. 3
146 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his response to the Donegal task force report which was presented in June 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18911/99]
The Donegal employment initiative task force was established late last year in response to the job losses announced at Fruit of the Loom. As the Deputy will know, as a direct result of these job losses I arranged for a participative conference on the investment and employment opportunities in the marine sector in the county.
I set a target for the identification of 1,000 new jobs and I am pleased to say that on foot of the conference potential for the immediate creation of some 650 new jobs was identified, along with the creation of a further 1,000 jobs in the longer term.
The summary and recommendations resulting from the conference were forwarded to the task force and I am pleased to say, formed the basis of the marine section of the task force's report.
I have taken a number of steps to build on the potential of Donegal's marine sector including: investment of £4 million in harbour developments in 1999; approval and commencement of a new £20 million landing facility at Killybegs; provision of funding under the interreg programme for an extension of the national fisheries training centre at Greencastle; commencement of a cross-Border aquaculture development programme which will work with the sector to provide technical and managerial support; accelerated licensing procedures, an independent board for appeals; intensification of BIM's and the marine institutes programmes to develop new fisheries in deepwater species and inshore fisheries.
A total investment of some £84 million requiring State aid of £42 million has been recommended by the task force. This is in accord with the findings of the conference that I convened. This is a very significant level of State investment. However, the largest element of investment relates to the provision of improved landing infrastructure and as I have already stated a £20 million development programme for Killybegs has already been announced along with development and improvement works at a number of other harbours throughout the county. The Killybegs development will not only impact on the fisheries sectors but will also have consequential benefits for the off-shore industries.
Investment in fleet improvements, aquaculture and processing is ongoing, but I am conscious of the need for increased investment in these sectors. In the context of the national development plan and the next round of structural funds I am making every effort to maximise the funding for the marine sectors, not only in Donegal, but nationally.