Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
608. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2021 Covid-19 temporary tie-up scheme will be opened for applications; if the terms of the scheme will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36411/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors and is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EMFF Regulation. That Regulation was amended in 2020 to facilitate financial supports to the fishing sector for the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supports were restricted to either temporary fleet tie-up or storage aid market supports and were available only in the period February to December 2020. A COVID-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme was implemented over the months of June, July and August 2020 and this Scheme provided a lump sum to participating vessel owners to cover their fixed costs while tying up for a calendar month period. Some 91 vessel owners availed of the Scheme.
As the EMFF Regulation does not permit funding of COVID supports to the fishing sector beyond December 2020, I have no plans to introduce a 2021 COVID-19 Tie up Scheme.
