Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
291. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strategic investments his Government has made during this Government's term to attract increased landings into Ireland of sustainably caught fish in Irish waters and promote the development of the seafood processing sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26881/23]
View answerThe value of landings into Ireland reached €507 million in 2022, with non-Irish vessels accounting for over one third of this. This represents growth on previous years, despite volume declines in landings primarily driven by the effect of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Brexit on Ireland and other Member States.
In addition to fostering the sustainable development of the Irish fleet, there have been initiatives which will enhance Ireland as a destination for landings by non-Irish vessels.
During the period 2020-2022, €77m was invested under the Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme in the six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. In January I allocated €37.3m for capital projects in the 2023 Programme. This funding is in addition to the €55.3m that I announced in December 2022 for 164 projects under the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023. This Scheme was designed to help the seafood sector adapt to the impacts of Brexit, including though modernised public marine facilities at important landing locations such as Kilmore Quay and Clogherhead. These investments demonstrate this Government’s serious commitment to supporting the fishing industry and rural coastal communities.
Beyond marine infrastructure there have been significant initiatives to enhance the supply chain in order to ensure the value of seafood landed in Ireland can be enhanced and developed to meet key market needs. Under my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme there were a number of exploratory projects primarily through the Seafood Processing Innovation Scheme and capital supports for onshore facilities and processing enterprises. In 2022, I announced the €45 million Brexit Processing Capital Support Scheme which has provided the opportunity for processors to expand on these previous initiatives and enhance the capacity, efficiency and value added focus of their facilities in order to attract new sources of raw material.
These strategic investments combined will make Ireland an attractive proposition for the landing of seafood, enhance Ireland’s reputation as a centre of excellence for seafood and create employment opportunities in coastal communities.
