I thank the Deputy for the question. As he knows, the operation of the fish assist scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. The primary source of funding for the Irish commercial seafood sector, including inshore and island fishermen and fisherwomen, is Ireland's seafood development programme, which is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Commission under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, EMFAF, 2021-2027. The measures which are eligible for aid are set out in the regulation governing the implementation of the EMFAF regulation, which is aligned with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. There is no provision for direct income supports in relation to primary producers in the seafood sector under the Common Fisheries Policy. The EMFAF regulation does not make provision for the use of EMFAF funds to provide income supports to primary producers in the seafood sector. Equally, there is no provision in the relevant EU regulations governing state aid that would allow any Exchequer-funded subsidy scheme for the seafood sector or for fishermen, in particular. I note the Deputy's question revolves principally around the ability of fishermen and fisherwomen to engage with the Department of Social Protection on that. I assure the Deputy that whatever we can do on engaging with that sector, we are happy to do so. By the Deputy raising the question today, it has the capacity to highlight to those people who work in this sector that there is aid and support there, as there is with farm assist, which is again administered through the Department of Social Protection. I am happy to assist in disseminating that information. It may be something that can be done through press releases by all of us to remind those who find themselves in difficult circumstances that the supports of the Department of Social Protection are there to assist all concerned.
Sentiment score: 0.28
As I outlined in my initial response to the Deputy, it is not possible to apportion any of the funding available to our Department through EMFAF to the income support he talks about. As he knows, and as is the case with farm assist, income support comes through the Department of Social Protection. While that does not fall within my responsibility, I am happy to have a conversation with the Minister, Deputy Calleary, on that. I am also conscious that the supports that are generally available through the Department of Social Protection are funds for individuals in really difficult circumstances. They are not seen as income support. They are really a means to allow individuals to get through a really difficult time, whether it be fluctuations of income or whatever. They are means tested and not really designed to be income supports. I am happy to communicate with the Minister but I do not want to give the Deputy false hope either. The Deputy talks about the disparity between the numbers of those who are engaged in the sector and those who are drawing down those income supports. I am conscious that no more than in farming, there are some part-time fishermen and fisherwomen who operate in that sector and have income from other sources so their combined income would certainly put them outside the threshold of means testing. It is important to put that on the record as well.
Sentiment score: 0.34
I recognise that. When I was before the committee chaired by Deputy McGuinness recently, I informed it that I have asked an outside interlocutor to work with the sector generally. Mr. Kieran Mulvey has accepted the role of working with all stakeholders in the sector to identify areas where we can assist and develop a way forward or pathway as part of a strategy that the Department will develop under the programme for Government. The Department has significantly improved the financial supports available to the inshore fleet in the past year, having implemented a number of schemes to specifically support inshore fishers and improved the aid rates available. These schemes include the small-scale coastal fisheries schemes, which provide unprecedented enhanced grants of up to 80% to inshore fishers for both onboard and onshore investment. Grants of 100% are now in place for inshore fishermen and women participating in the lobster V-notching scheme. An innovative scheme to support the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet, the inshore fleet economic assessment scheme, was put in place in 2024. Inshore fishers can also access supports under other schemes, such as the fleet safety scheme and the seafood training scheme. All these schemes are administered on behalf of my Department through BIM, as the Deputy knows. Further details on them are available from me. I am happy to continue to work with the sector to try to provide the most support possible, recognising that there are constraints set out in both domestic and European law.
Sentiment score: 0.34