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McConalogue announces extension to claims for payment deadline for approved projects under the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Scheme

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, today announced that projects approved for funding under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Blue Economy Enterprise Scheme now have until 30 October to submit their claims for payment under the scheme. 

This scheme, which has a budget of €25 million, aims to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on businesses operating in the blue economy and located in communities within 10km of the coastline.

The Minister said: “Our rural coastal communities are key to our seafood sector and the blue economy is key to Ireland’s coastal communities. This scheme - the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Scheme - is the largest ever of its kind in Ireland and it is designed to stimulate growth in our rural coastal communities by supporting blue economy initiatives across a range of activities. By extending the claim deadline for projects approved under this scheme, I am working with BIM to maximise the time available to these projects to submit their claims in order to ensure the budget for this scheme is used to its fullest potential, representing, as it does, the largest amount of funding available for the support of our coastal communities.”  

Delivered through the existing Fisheries Local Action Group structure, the scheme promotes innovative approaches that provide the impetus to reinvigorate coastal communities by allowing them to restructure, reconfigure, retrain, and diversify post-Brexit via:

• Supporting diversification and entrepreneurial initiatives in the blue economy by fostering start-up businesses and facilitating existing business to diversify, add-value and grow employment in communities that are within 10km of the coastline
• Providing business mentoring and capacity development to businesses engaged with or are intent in operating within the blue economy
• Supporting upskilling and training to exploit economic opportunities that complement existing or new activities within the blue economy
• Fostering partnerships that develop innovative solutions that deliver for coastal livelihoods
• Promoting sustainable solutions within the scope of the blue economy that empower and enable the development and delivery of activities and services to improve sustainability and adapt to climate change

The Scheme is administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and further details are available from BIM at BIM - The Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund..

Notes for Editors

In March 2021, Minister McConalogue set up the Seafood Sector Task Force to examine the implications for the Irish Fishing industry and coastal communities particularly dependent upon it arising from the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement, agreed between the European Union and the UK.  The Task Force was charged with recommending initiatives that could be taken to provide supports for development and restructuring, so as to ensure a sustainable fishing fleet and to identify opportunities for jobs and economic activity in coastal communities dependent on fishing. 

Minister McConalogue received the  Report of the Seafood Task Force – Navigating Change – Navigating Change on 11 October 2021. The report recommended 16 support schemes at a total estimated cost of €423 million.  These stakeholder recommendations were examined across Government with particular regard to available funds, eligibility of the recommended measures for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve and with regard to State Aid rules and the Public Spending Code.  These schemes reflect the implementation of the Sea Food Task Force Recommendations.

Extension

The following extension will apply:

FLAGS

Fisheries Local Action Group, recognised by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. More information is available here: Fisheries Local Action Groups – Grupaí Gníomhaíochta Iascaigh Áitiúla

Blue Economy

In the context of this scheme, Blue Economy refers to industries and sectors related to oceans, seas and coasts whether they are based directly in the marine environment or on land.