Written Answers. - Natural Resources Development.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
152
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
the extent to which various segments of the country's natural resources have been developed in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13156/00]
Over the past five years, there has been substantial development in the various segments of the country's natural resources.
Over the period 1995 to 1999, inclusive, a total of 81,690 hectares was afforested under the CAP afforestation grant scheme. The total cost of grant-aiding new planting and other forestry related projects during that period was just over £250 million. Annual figures are as follows:
|
|
Cost (£m)
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Area(hectares)
|
(Afforestation Grant)
|
(Other) (1)
|
|
|
|
(£)
|
(£m)
|
|
|
1995
|
23,710
|
29.70
|
19.657
|
|
|
1996
|
20,981
|
25.70
|
19.223
|
|
|
1997
|
11,403
|
14.40
|
26.783
|
|
|
1998
|
12,928
|
18.80
|
32.754
|
|
|
1999
|
12,668
|
18.00
|
48,200
|
|
(1) Includes annual premiums, maintenance grants, second instalment grants, forestry development and training.
The continued interest in exploration for minerals in this country is indicated in the tables below:
|
Prospecting licences held at year end.
|
Spend on Exploration(£m)
|
|
1995
|
416
|
6.49
|
|
1996
|
416
|
7.14
|
|
1997
|
401
|
8.04
|
|
1998
|
397
|
9.34
|
|
1999
|
463
|
10 (Est)
|
Total annual production (1,000 tonnes)
|
Lead
|
Zinc
|
Gypsum
|
|
1995
|
46.1
|
183.5
|
406
|
|
1996
|
45.3
|
164.5
|
422.8
|
|
1997
|
45.0
|
193.0
|
477
|
|
1998
|
35.9
|
177.2
|
500 (Est)
|
|
1999
|
39.2
|
195.9
|
500 (Est)
|
In the last five years, Ireland has held its own in the face of a world-wide decline in exploration expenditure. The minerals of interest to prospecting licence holders include gold and precious stones in addition to zinc, lead and gypsum. The continued interest in exploration for minerals in this country is indicated by the fact that expenditure under prospecting licences rose from £6.49 million in 1995 to £9.34 million in 1998. Estimated outturn for 1999 is £10 million.
In the period 1995 to 1999 four new State mining facilities – leases and licences – were granted under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999: a State mining licence to Arcon Mines for the Galmoy zinc and lead mine in County Kilkenny; a state mining lease to Ivernia West and Minorco Lisheen – now Anglo American – for the Lisheen zinc and lead mine in County Tipperary; two State mining licences to Tara Mines Limited for additional minerals adjacent to the existing mine at Navan. On hydrocarbons exploration and development the Kinsale gasfield, the only national developed resource, has been in production since 1978, while its south-west lobe was brought into production in October 1999
At present, the Corrig gas find is still being appraised and further drilling is due this year. The licensees expect to be in a position by next December to declare whether or not the find is commercial.
The Helvick oil find has been declared commercial. It is regarded as a marginal field and a plan of development will be submitted for my approval later this year.
Under the Fisheries Operational Programme 1994-1999, over £14 million grant aid was allocated to support investment of £50 million in the fishing fleet. In the early years of the programme, support was allocated to the modernisation of 239 vessels. In June 1998, a programme of renewal of the Whitefish Fleet was introduced. This programme has resulted in the introduction of 30 new vessels and ten modern second-hand vessels into the fleet, the modernisation of 63 existing vessels and the provision of essential safety equipment ón board 561 vessels.
In the fish processing sector, a total investment of £26.5 million has been supported since 1994, securing existing jobs and creating over 263 new jobs. During the early part of the programme, a high proportion of the available funding was allocated to upgrading projects to facilitate compliance with EU health and hygiene regulations. The upgrading of the sector was essential in order to maintain employment and position the industry to expand and develop. During the latter part of the programme investment support was concentrated on development projects that increased output and added value. A targeted programme of market support was also implemented.
A training programme for the sector was implemented with a strong emphasis on improving the accessibility of courses with the introduction of mobile training units and the opening of a new regional training centre in Castletownbere. The provision of safety training was given priority.
Over £17 million has been invested over the past five years in tourism angling under the tourism angling measure of the Tourism Operational Programme 1994-1999, with the objective of upgrading the coarse, game and sea angling facilities to best international standards. Nearly 160 projects were undertaken throughout the country, particularly in the more remote and disadvantaged areas where the majority of the fisheries are located. The main areas of development under TAM included physical in-stream and bank development, fisheries stocks enhancement and management, establishment of new fisheries and the acquisition and development of certain strategic sport fisheries.
To continue the process of developing the inland fisheries, including further increasing tourist angling and revenue, and the creation of additional jobs in the sector, a sum of £24 million has been allocated by the Government in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
There has been significant investment in the acquaculture sector over the last five years. In particular, under the acquaculture measure of the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999, over £11 million in Exchequer and EU funding has been made available for development and expansion of the aquaculture sector. Over 100 projects were undertaken to expand the shellfish sector, to modernise fin-fish farming operations and to enhance environmental and quality management and monitoring on the ground. The total investment during the programme amounted to over £31 million.
To continue the process of developing the sector, and with a particular focus on achieving critical mass, greater diversity in production and value added opportunities, the Government has allocated £25 million in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, which will attract a total investment of over £60 million in the sector over the next six years.
The National Seaweed Forum was established in October 1999 to identify how the seaweed sector and resource can be developed to maximise its contribution to the national and local economics and to the income of people in coastal communities. The forum is due to present its report to me by July 2000.
As part of my strategy for the marine tourism sector, a new division, the marine tourism and leisure division, has been set up in my Department. A report was published in 1999 by the Marine Institute which identified the potential for the development of the water-based tourism and leisure sector.
