Vol. 5 No. 2
In accordance with Standing Order 79B, the following message will be sent to the Dáil:
The Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has considered the following Estimate for Public Services for services in the year ending 31 December 2002: Vote 31 - Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Revised).
I thank the Minister and his officials for attending today's meeting.
On behalf of the committee I welcome the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Frank Fahey, and his officials. We will hear the Minister first and Members may then ask questions and make comments.
The Estimate calls for expenditure of €248.825 million on the activities of the Department in 2002. This represents a net increase of 17% on the outturn of 2001 and includes € 34.7 million to provide for salaries and operational costs of the 526 departmental staff, including the implementation of our IT strategy. A total of €28.9 million is provided for marine safety and this includes a provision of €3.4 million to provide an all-weather 24 hour marine rescue response helicopter service at Waterford airport. This service will commence on 1 July 2002.
There is a provision of € 4.9 million for investment in commercial and other ports. A sum of € 5.7 million is being provided to support sustainable development of the marine leisure and tourism sector, particularly infrastructure and integrated product development. Provision has also been made for mining tourism projects.
A sum of €4 million is being provided under subhead E1 for coast protection works as the third stage of a total investment programme of €52 million under the national development plan. A provision of € 29.4 million is allocated in 2002 in respect of marine research funding for the new research vessel Celtic Explorer and the national seabed survey. Over €68 million is being invested in the seafood sector in 2002 in areas such as continued modernisation and safety improvements of the whitefish fleet with the revitalisation of the inshore fishing fleet, the enhancement of the seafood marketing sector and the development of seafood processing enterprises and the development of the aquaculture industry.
Some €31million is being provided for the fishery harbour infrastructure programme which this year includes Killybegs, Rossaveal and Castletownbere. Provision of almost €2.2 million for seafood processing under subhead 1.3 will encourage that sector to increase capacity utilisation, improve sea fish quality and support research and development in support companies in the area of marketing. A sum of €4.6 million is being allocated to aquacultural development in order to maintain the momentum of growth and to consolidate and enhance the industry. Funding of € 20.8 million is provided for inland fisheries in 2002 in order to provide for the operation of the Central Regional Fisheries Board, salmon catchment initiatives, contributions to trout and coarse fisheries development societies and tourism and recreational angling. The work of the National Salmon Commission will be assisted.
Subheads K1 to K9 provide for over €106 million in 2002 in investment and support for the forestry sector. This funding will support the planting of additional native woodland estates, develop urban and amenity woodlands, re-establish forest plantations and generally enhance forest infrastructure. Training and research and development programmes will also be supported.
Mindful of overall budgetary constraints this year I undertook, in the context of negotiations on this year's Estimates, a critical and strategic view of my Department's expenditure proposals. The critical objective was to ensure that adequate funding was available to deliver on our 38 programmes under the national development plan and to meet on a value-for-money basis our priority commitments including maritime safety and the coastguard.
I thank the Minister for his brief presentation and I will not give out to him for not being more comprehensive because I understand why that was so. I wish to raise a number of issues with the Minister. In inspecting the Estimate I find there are six cases of non-performance or non-delivery in the course of 2001. They concern marine emergency coastal units; coastal radio stations; the fish processing programme under the NDP which we have still not seen; the aquaculture development programme; the tourism angling programme; and, two grant schemes for the promotion of forestry. All these schemes were intended to come on stream during the course of the year 2001 but this has not happened. It is a worrying state of affairs when six such important programmes within the remit of the Minister and his Department have not been introduced to date. I have been baffled for some time by the delay in announcing the programme for the fish processing sector, in particular.
I ask the Minister to outline what consultancy services under subhead A7 will cost €1.6 million during the course of this year. Consultancy provisions have become quite a feature of Estimates in recent years. I have nothing in principle against consultancies but in an Estimate where there are six major problems of non-delivery or non-performance, the question needs to be asked. In at least one of those cases the reason for non-delivery apparently had to do with the fact that a consultancy report did not become available.
Under subhead B1 we are told that capital works on marine emergency coastal units did not proceed at the anticipated rate in 2001. Is any action being taken to remedy that situation and can we assume that the capital works that did not take place in 2001 will take place in 2002? That is an important service and I am sure that the Minister and Deputy Sheehan will agree with me when I say that we owe quite a lot to the volunteer members of that service who literally risk life and limb in the provision of those services. I fully support what the Minister proposes in support of the operation of those services. The same applies to subhead B2, coastal radio stations. This is an area where a consultancy study was not made available. We are entitled to be very satisfied, if not very proud, of the service that is provided here by people who apply a good deal of dedication to their work in coastal radio stations. I had the pleasure of visiting the station at Malin Head a few months ago. I was extremely impressed by the approach of all of the people there and the interest and dedication they applied to their work.
In relation to emergency services under subhead B5, I note what the Minister has said about the provision of a new all-weather 24 hour marine emergency response helicopter service based at Waterford airport which will commence in the summer. I am pleased the Minister has provided us with this detail. Recently in the Chamber, the Minister of State was rather coy about it. All he would say was that he would guarantee the provision of a service in June. I am happy this provision has been made but can the Minister give us any indication of his view on whether we will be able to provide a service of this kind within the foreseeable future from the resources of the Air Corps? I am aware there are some difficulties about the acquisition of new helicopters by the Air Corps for this type of service but the provision of the particular service provided for here, on which I compliment the Minister, is much needed. I welcome the fact that the matter is being approached in this way although I am sure we would all like to see a situation where we had within our own control the capacity to provide the kind of coverage we need around our coasts. I hope the difficulties concerning the Department of Defence's involvement in the acquisition of new helicopters will be resolved before toolong.
Subhead B6, which has a token provision for wreck salvage and relief of distressed seamen, is the subhead under which it is appropriate to raise the continuing problems in Port Oriel Harbour in Clogherhead and the abandoned vessel still lying in the harbour. The Minister told me previously that this is a matter for Louth County Council to resolve. I suggested to the Minister at one stage that he might take the bull by the horns, have the necessary work carried out and send the bill to Louth County Council, and it appears there is a contingency provision here which would allow him to do that. Will he now reconsider that or else consider what action he might take to encourage Louth County Council to meet its obligations because the fishermen who rely on the quay in Clogherhead have been experiencing serious difficulties for some time as their harbour is effectively blocked by this vessel?
I note under marine navigation in subhead C that all work on an Irish Loran C mast has now been suspended. I note also the other points made about that in the briefing material we have been given. Can we take it from the Minister that this is the end of that issue now that two further countries have formally withdrawn from that system? I have had doubts over a number of years about the wisdom of proceeding with that system.
There is a provision in subhead D2 for the Marine and Natural Resources tourism programme. Is there a special and compelling reason there is no provision, if my understanding is correct, for any grant assistance to inland marinas? My understanding is that there is provision for assistance to marinas on the sea coast but there is no provision for assistance to marinas on inland waterways. If I am wrong, I will be delighted to hear that from the Minister.
Subhead E1, which deals with coastal protection and management, shows a decrease of €3.7 million for this year compared to last year. The Minister believes that certain works were completed last year but one would not have to travel very far to find compelling reasons for an expenditure at the same level as last year. Is the Minister taking too relaxed an approach to coastal protection?
Subhead F2 deals with the Salmon Research Agency. I am not sure whether it is relevant to ask a question about the National Salmon Commission under this subhead but perhaps the Minister could tell us when we will see full publication of the information available to the National Salmon Commission, which apparently is part of the basis for new measures the Minister announced recently in relation to quotas on a regional basis for drift netters in particular. I am not aware that the information available to the National Salmon Commission, and on which the Minister appears to have based his decisions, has been made public. If it has I would be delighted. If not, I would like to know whether it is envisaged that it will be made available.
Under subhead G1 provision is made for a substantial amount of expenditure on the five major fishery harbour centres and selected secondary harbours. The Minister mentioned three of the principal harbours in his contribution - Rossaveel, Castletownbere and Killybegs - but it would be useful to know the others that will receive attention under that heading during this year. As a general rule I would recommend to the Government, and perhaps one would be in a better position to deliver on this in the not too distant future, that where programmes like this envisage specific expenditure in the course of a given year, that expenditure would be specifically listed in the Estimate. That is a general problem in areas of capital expenditure which applies to Departments other than the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources but it would be useful if we could have that level of detail because I suspect that at this time of the year the Minister knows what destination will be attached to most of the funds allocated under these subheads. There will be occasions when plans do not work out quite as intended but by and large at this time of the year the destination is known.
I note that in relation to fish processing under subhead I3 we are told again that the investment strategy for this sector has not yet been finalised. Can the Minister give us a date on which the programme for assistance to fish processing will be given? It is noted that European Union state aid approval to the measure was received on 7 September last. It is now almost six months later so when can we expect to see this programme? Many people throughout the country have an interest in it and are waiting with baited breath, to use a malapropism, for what the Minister will decide.
Under the shellfish monitoring programme in subhead I4, it is noted that the policy objective relates to the implementation of EU directives on the quality of shellfish waters. Is that the only matter considered here? It speaks of monitoring shellfish growing waters to ensure public health is safeguarded. There is an issue, as the Minister is aware, in both Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle in relation to competition between mussel and oyster operations although the Minister of State tended to downplay the importance of that in discussions during Question Time in the past few months. The Minister is probably aware that the contention continues in both areas and there is still a good deal of bad feeling in both areas about alleged encroachments by mussel seeding operations on existing oyster beds.
Aquaculture development is another area where savings arose in 2001 because of delays in launching the new programme. When will the new programme be launched?
The tourism angling programme was also delayed. No expenditure was incurred in 2001 due to the delay in launching the new programme. What is the reason for the delay and when will we see the new programme? The national development plan is under way for some time and it is odd that this important programme, which interests in the industry believe could raise a lot of tourism revenue, has not yet been announced.
In relation to forestry, two new grant schemes were launched too late in 2001 to incur expenditure. The Minister will be aware that there has been some demand on the farming side for a reconsideration of the forestry premium schemes. My understanding is that premia for post-1993 planning are now available for 20 years. There is a suggestion the premia should continue for rather longer than that because the life cycle of most plantations is longer than 20 years. Is that a matter the Minister would consider?
On shellfish, in relation to the appropriations-in-aid I wish to draw the Minister's attention to aquaculture licence fees. The Minister is probably aware that a number of Members have had correspondence, which was sent to the Minister, including one substantial document on 26 February and another on 5 March. This correspondence raised a number of questions about the basis for the current aquaculture licensing scheme. Is the Minister aware of the particular questions that have been raised? Does he envisage responding to the questions and, if so, what will be the main focus of his response? I will not say any more about the matter although I speak under privilege. The Minister will understand that it is not appropriate to be more detailed about it than that in public session. However, having read the correspondence on this, there is a basis for a question and I want to know the Minister's views.
On provisions for mining and petroleum, I join with colleagues on both sides of the House in noting with satisfaction the re-start of operations at Tara Mines in Navan. It was a blow to that area and to the sector generally when operations were suspended. All Members hope to see a resumption of activity there.
The Minister mentioned that the Corrib gas prospect off the west coast is currently being appraised by Enterprise Energy, which is forging ahead with the task of bringing gas ashore in County Mayo. That is not directly part of the Minister's brief but the company has raised with me a number of its concerns about the implications of the current programme of construction of gas pipelines, and the cost to the company of bringing gas into circulation and making it available. Is the Minister concerned about this?
The proposition that has been put to me in brief is that a rapid programme of construction of gas pipelines is under way and the way that is being done runs the risk of front-loading the cost of infrastructure provision here and making the provision and distribution of gas more expensive than it would be if there were a more extended programme of pipeline construction. There is a worry that the result of that front-loading of the cost may in the short to medium-term make gas less competitive with other fuels than it might be, and might hinder the contribution of the gas to our total energy supply system. I understand that pipeline development is not within the Minister's remit but I want to know if consideration has been given by Government to that aspect of the problem.
I welcome the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources' Estimates for the coming year. I note the allocation of €5.7 million for the marine and natural resource tourism programme under subhead D2. Some £38 million has been provided under the national development plan for marine tourism aimed particularly at access infrastructure and integrated product development. Of that £38 million, only €5.7 million will be spent this year under this valuable subhead. This programme has a big bearing on the marine and tourism aspects of the Minister's Department. The deep-sea angling business, for which the Minister intends to launch the tourism and recreational angling scheme, is coupled with the inland fisheries. Almost €1.3 million in Exchequer funding is being made available this year for that scheme.
Why is there a delay in announcing this scheme? We were told six months ago that this scheme would be up and running at this stage. The deep-sea angling season is fast approaching, particularly in my constituency of Cork South-West. There are many people interested in the business of deep-sea angling which will be a vast boost to tourism and the economic life of that area. I advise the Minister to get that programme off the ground immediately, before Easter if he can. He should announce the terms of the scheme and where application forms can be obtained. If the Department has already received applications I would like to know the volume of take-up of the scheme.
The Minister also stated that £31 million has been provided this year for fishery harbour infrastructure development, including Killybegs, Rossaveel and Castletownbere. I would like a breakdown of that figure for the three ports concerned. I was speaking to fishermen in Castletownbere as late as one week ago and they were at a loss as to what is envisaged in the grant project for their port this year, and what the grant will be devoted to. I also have in mind the famous wreck at the entrance to that bay, the Bardini Reefer, which has been there for the past 24 or 25 years. Her mastheads are completely visible at low tide. There is a similar wreck at Clougherhead in County Louth but the wreck at Castletownbere should be the responsibility of the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources because it is sited in the waters subject to the jurisdiction of the Castletownbere harbour master, and in the waters of the Bere Haven sound. I am amazed to think that it has been lying derelict for 25 years, posing a threat to shipping in and out of Castletownbere Harbour. Some time ago, I was told that a local firm offered to remove the wreck for about £400,000, which was peanuts when you realise that several boats have run aground there, hit the wreck and been damaged. I would like to know if the Bardini Reefer can be removed with some of the €31 million available to Castletownbere Harbour, Killybegs and Rossaveel.
A sum of €39 million is being made available under the national development plan to support the development of the tourist and commercial angling sectors. The investment will be targeted at improving conservation and expansion of fishery habitats and stocks. There is a great need to spend money on the harbours that have deep sea angling, tourism and fishery potential and, with that in mind, I would like to know what are the Minister's intentions. Are many more harbours earmarked for development under that scheme? I am very interested in the application from the Bantry Harbour board for a substantial contribution towards the £5 million pier development and slipway which will be of immense benefit and will build up the infrastructure of that deep sea fishing port. Bantry Harbour is one of the finest in western Europe and at one time the British Government, then in control of the State, boasted that it could hold the entire British fleet. Today that harbour is derelict because there is no proper infrastructure to handle commercial traffic. The harbour has huge fishery potential. The pier in Bantry Bay is a Mecca for and the capital of aquaculture development here and, for that reason, I ask the Minister to be generous when contributing to the Bantry Harbour board to help get this project of the ground. The pier is going to tender and the board is borrowing a huge amount of money. It awaits the authorisation of the grant the Minister will make available this year.
I thank both Deputies for their questions. It is not quite correct to say, as Deputy Dukes did, that there are six areas where programmes did not get off the ground. It is true in some cases and I will outline what happened in each.
The aquaculture programme is up and running. It was launched in February 2001 and the grant aid approved to date amounts to €8.8 million for ten projects in the southern and eastern regions and 22 in the Border, midland and western regions. The programme is continuing apace and is proving to be very successful.
We only received EU clearance for the angling measure in December because it was linked to the overall tourist measure. I am about to launch the measure, which has been delayed for a combination of reasons, not least the fact that I was concerned about the structure of the inland fisheries organisation. The personnel review has recently been completed and I was anxious that it would be available throughout the central and regional boards. We have looked at the structure of the boards, particularly the central board which has a north Dublin location. Given those issues, the need for some restructuring in the inland fisheries area and the need to get value for money in the programme, we wanted to get a number of things absolutely right before going ahead with this scheme. I am now satisfied that those issues have been dealt with and we will be announcing the scheme in the next couple of weeks.
There were two schemes in the forestry programme - the neighbourhood scheme and the native woodland scheme - which were launched in the autumn, but no expenditure took place in 2001 because it was simply too late for the schemes to incur costs. However, the schemes are now up and running, there is significant interest in them and we see no difficulty with the expenditure of the money involved.
It is not correct to say that the marine emergency programme has not been progressed. Its main element, which did not take place, was the emergency towing vessel project. That did not proceed because we could not acquire the kind of vessel needed to provide the required level of service, which would also be value for money. We have now come up with a proposal involving the use of a number of privately-owned towing vessels in various coastal locations which we hope will provide an emergency towing facility at a fraction of the cost of getting a dedicated vessel. That is part of the reason we did not spend that money in 2001.
The Malin Head matter was mentioned and planning permission has been granted for an extension. We are proceeding with the project, which was dependent on the study carried out by Deloitte & Touche. The study has been completed and, as the Deputy is aware, we have established a new safety directorate. We have, for the first time ever, appointed an assistant secretary to that position and provided increased powers and resources. Consequently, we are satisfied that safety will receive a much higher priority than before.
The reason we could not utilise the Air Corps in respect of the Waterford helicopter project was that it simply did not have the equipment to provide the service demanded. An excellent private sector service is provided for the west coast from Shannon and it is very efficient and cost effective. We would all like to see the Air Corps providing as much of the required search and rescue services as possible with the new equipment that is to come on stream and that is certainly an objective of ours into the future. However, we are very happy with the quality of the service operating off the west coast, which cost-benefit analysis shows to be very effective. Consequently, we went ahead with the same provision for Waterford and we are satisfied that we will get an exceptionally good and cost effective service. That service is one we have been anxious to have up and running for some time and it will fill the gap that has existed off the south coast.
While it is correct that no development has taken place in respect of seafood processing, I will announce the new programme for the sector in the next two weeks or thereabouts. We deliberately delayed the scheme for the simple reason that we needed to respond to the Indecon report by Alan Gray, one of the first reports to come across my desk when I came into the Department, which called for fundamental and radical change in the industry. Putting together the programme involved a considerable amount of soul searching about whether to continue down the route of supporting a small and disparate processing industry which, by and large, had not moved on and was not using the kind of technology and food science one finds in modern food processing in other sectors.
Consequently, it was necessary to bring together Enterprise Ireland, BIM, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Department to examine the kind of fundamental changes called for in the industry. We also had considerable discussion with the industry. I am fully aware that many people, as Deputy Dukes pointed out, are waiting for the programme to be announced. Many of them will be disappointed when it is announced because it will call for quite radical change. We cannot continue to support small companies which are replacing equipment to continue in much the same way as in the past. We must rationalise the sector and bring about the kind of new technology that exists in other parts of the world. We need to bring our seafood product from a very low level of quality to a much higher level and embrace new developments in biotechnology and other areas as they relate to seafood.
As we are far behind our counterparts in the agriculture sector, an area with which the Deputy is very familiar, it will be necessary to use the money provided under this heading very advisedly to bring about rationalisation and the merger of many of the small companies that will not survive without radical and fundamental change. I have no regrets about delaying the programme. When we announce it in the next week or two we will have got it right. As part of it, applications will be considered jointly by Enterprise Ireland, BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta, three State agencies which are co-operating in this sector. It is also vitally important that we utilise existing agencies in a co-ordinated manner.
It would have been very easy to have done a quick job by introducing the measure earlier and to have responded positively to the considerable number of applications for extra freezing capacity, additional primary processing facilities and so on. Although funding for such measures is not ruled out, we want greater use of technology in order that we arrive at a position in which a much higher value is added to this declining resource. This will require a series of measures which have been foreign to the industry until now. I am most anxious to get it right because we have only one chance to turn the industry around. I am happy to discuss the matter further with the Deputy after we have launched the programme.
In respect of the consultancy fees, I am happy to circulate to Deputies a full breakdown of the consultancy work carried out in the Department and the costs involved. There has been very significant consultancy work in exploration and mining, petroleum affairs, maritime transport, coastal zone management, marine safety and the environment, the audit section and reviews of forestry and the commercial ports. All this work is crucially important in terms of advising the Department and the industry generally on the way forward in the light of the very changed circumstances in many industries.
With regard to the capital works outlined by the Deputy, we will announce the details of the overall programme shortly. The three main projects will take up the vast bulk of resources. The Killybegs project, for example, for which we hope to sign the contract in the next couple of weeks, will cost more than €40 million. We will also be in a position to give details of many of the smaller projects, all of which are costed and have been allocation funds. The detailed Estimate will set out the specific amounts of money which it is proposed to spend this year on each of them.
One of the major difficulties with major capital works in marine infrastructure is their very complicated nature, the long lead in for planning due to the very unusual nature of the work involved and, more recently, the introduction of complicated new planning requirements such as environmental impact statements. Consequently, delays have been experienced with the Killybegs project, for example, in the planning process for years. However, the various projects are now progressing well and we have no problems spending the money allocated to us.
The Deputy asked the Department to remove the vessel in Clogherhead harbour and send the bill to Louth County Council. I wish it was that simple. Unfortunately, the matter is the responsibility of the local authority. It must spend the money. We have tried to co-operate with Louth County Council by offering to make a contribution towards moving the vessel which, I accept, is causing major difficulties and I am prepared to approach the council again to see if we can proceed to get the job done.
As the Deputy stated, the Loran C project appears to have been abandoned due to the decision by Germany and Norway to withdraw. We made a very serious attempt to find an alternative site and were progressing quite well when the news of their withdrawal came through. The number of users of the system has declined and there is no question that it will be overtaken by technology. With the US satellite defence control system improving, it appears that all countries intend to opt for a GPS system and Loran C will, therefore, shortly become obsolete.
There is no reason inland marinas cannot be included in the tourism programme. We have not ruled them out. One of the difficulties is that the amount of money provided in the heading will be more than taken up by the infrastructure on the coastline. We were anxious not to create huge demand and then find we simply did not have the money. We have concentrated largely on marina infrastructure on the coastline. There is very significant potential in this area, which has not been exploited until now.
If there are inland marinas that appear to offer value for money, we have no difficulty in looking at them. The amount of money under this subhead will be more than spoken for in terms of the number of marina developments to be built around the coast.
Provision for coastal protection is down this year. We had to take a hit in some areas because of the need to curtail our expenditure programme, in respect of which Deputy Dukes and I are at one.
I hope so.
While we were loath to reduce funding under any heading, unfortunately that pertaining to coastal protection was one that had to be reduced. We are ensuring that some of the major urgent programmes continue and that we provide sufficient money to proceed with projects that have been on the stocks for some time.
The salmon research programme and the publication of data from the Salmon Commission were mentioned. The Salmon Commission has the scientific data. It is widely available to the commission and there is no reason it cannot become available to the public. One problem, obviously, is that the scientific data call for very significant reductions in the catch of wild salmon. Clearly, none of the stakeholders is too keen about those kinds of reductions. Therefore, we must be mindful of the scientific advice and, at the same time, introduce a management scheme that is reasonable and reasonably acceptable to the stakeholders across the spectrum - from the anglers to the draft-net men to the drift-net men.
We are in negotiation with all the stakeholders to try bring about a reduction in catches and a quota scheme that will start the process of reduction and not wipe anybody out. That is the task we are engaged in and I appreciate that the industry, across the spectrum, is engaging in that exercise. Ultimately, we will have to make difficult decisions and people will have to suffer pain if we are to arrest the decline of the wild salmon stock and rebuild it again. I am confident that, with the action being taken, we will succeed in doing that. I am quite happy to have the Deputies briefed by the scientists in the National Salmon Research Centre so they will have a full understanding of what is involved and the absolute need for us to reduce the take through the mechanisms we have established.
Will the Minister get the Salmon Commission to publish all the data it has?
The Marine Institute can publish it. There is no difficulty in that respect. Also, I will request the Salmon Commission to publish it.
I do not mind who publishes it as long as it is made available to the public.
We will do that.
The appropriations in aid and the problem that arose in respect of the questions that have been put to Members of the Oireachtas have been dealt with definitively and the legislation that was approved last November took care of the difficulties that existed. In fact, the industry had, at all times, been informed and has been satisfied with the proposals that have been put in legislation. The industry has no doubts about any statutory issue concerning the charges for licence fees. That has been in line with the advice of the Attorney General. I am satisfied that all questions raised have been answered satisfactorily. My officials have dealt with them in great detail. I am also satisfied that there are no outstanding items that require further investigation or consideration.
Deputy Dukes spoke of the implications of gas being brought ashore and the implications for current pipeline construction. This is not an area for which I am responsible, but comes under the remit of the Department with responsibility for energy. However, I am satisfied the rapid programme of pipeline construction is necessary and it has to be paid for. Although I accept the point made, which has also been expressed by the industry concerned, it will add to the price of gas, but we have to put the infrastructure in place. The infrastructure is very expensive. It involves front loading and it involves a £300 million ring main, which will be put in place between now and the end of next year. It will also require a connection to that main from the Corrib gas field.
There are not many options other than the industry paying, but it is significant that we will now have competition for the first time. The second inter-connector will ensure that sufficient gas will come in from overseas. Also, we will have our own Irish-produced gas, which will create competition and, I hope, ensure that the price of gas remains at a sustainable level.
With regard to Deputy Sheehan's question on the €5.8 million allocation for marine tourism, the overall amount is quite small. One of the difficulties with the marine access infrastructure is the timescale in the planning of marina projects. The only project that was ready to begin last year was in Cahirciveen. We approved some other projects but they are only coming to fruition now, such as those in Rosses Point and Roundstone.
I am satisfied the lead-in time for a number of the new projects now being submitted to the Department is such that we will not be able to spend any more than €5.8 million this year. Certainly, there will be no difficulty in respect of spending the overall amount of money - €36 million - in the period of the NDP, and much more if it were available.
The Bardine Reefer in Castletownbere has been there for 25 years and I will not be able to shift it. It is a matter for the owner to remove this vessel. It is marked and I understand it is not causing a major difficulty.
The owner is in Hong Kong——
That is the problem. Unless the Deputy can bring him back——
——leading a lavish lifestyle.
Did we not have a gunboat in Hong Kong?
Yes. The Deputy also mentioned Bantry. It is a tragedy that the Bantry Bay terminal was sold and that people there did not insist on some of the money that went to the Exchequer being reallocated to Bantry. It is very surprising for west Cork people to be asleep. They all seemed to be asleep in respect of this matter and now they are coming back to me——
The Minister has a very short memory. Eight and a half million pounds of the Whiddy package was siphoned away from us and the Minister did not give it back. I am now asking the Minister for only £3 million of it.
The Deputy is coming back to me looking for money, having allowed the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, to pocket much largesse. Anyhow, we are very anxious to see Bantry——
There is nothing worse than rapacious Kildare men.
We are very anxious to see progress at Bantry Bay. The local harbour board, Deputy Sheehan and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Walsh, have put forward a very fair and straight case. We will see what we can do to assist Bantry. I was there last year and allocated £1.5 million as a gesture of goodwill.
But it will cost about €5.5 million.
It is a lot of money but we are looking at this in the context of this year's overall commercial harbours allocation. We will see what we can do for Bantry.
Deputy Dukes mentioned the maximum 20 year period for premium payments. This amount is subject to European Union regulations which only provide for support up to 20 years. The Exchequer is not in a position to bear the cost of extending this scheme any further. Revenue from first trimmings come on stream up to a 15 to 20 year period. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to change that.
