Fisheries Fund: South-east Area

Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture and Rural Development – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 24 February 2015.

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Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP 2:15, 24 February 2015

6. Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what proportion of the south-east area European Fisheries Fund moneys have been distributed, or are allocated for distribution, to each of the commercial fishing communities. (AQO 7652/11-15)

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

To date, £1·255 million south-east area European Fisheries Fund (EFF) funding has been allocated to projects in the Kilkeel area, £0·102 million to Ardglass-based projects and £0·186 million to Portavogie. A further £0·533 million has been awarded to projects that span all three target areas, with benefits shared across all three villages.

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

My supplementary question concerns the reported situation in Portavogie, where the council has accepted a letter of offer from the South-east Area Fisheries Local Action Group (SEA-FLAG) for a 3G pitch after a lengthy and robust six-month process, including obtaining planning permission and a thorough consultation, only to be told that the offer has been withdrawn. Meanwhile, DARD officials have informed the local press that the offer might not be withdrawn but would instead be subject to an economic appraisal. Will the Minister please provide an explanation of why so many conflicting messages are being sent out and assure the people of Portavogie that they will not be short-changed in the distribution of these moneys at the expense of perhaps more politically favourable projects in south Down?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

The Member will be very aware of how the decisions are made. I will try to make it very clear for you: it is not about favouring any project; it is about making sure that we have gone through all the concerns, objections and issues that have been raised.

I will try to make this very clear and succinct. SEA-FLAG has received an application from Ards leisure centre seeking EFF funding of £302,171 for a synthetic football pitch in Portavogie. That application was presented to my Department for approval, following a recommendation by SEA-FLAG. However, in assessing the project, concerns have been raised about how the project meets the objectives of the funding programme, the timescales to complete the project and the benefits for the community. Those are three key issues that we need to overcome. If we are able to do that, I do not have or foresee a problem with the Department allowing the recommendation to go further.

The Department has recommended that, before any offer of grant is made, a full independent economic appraisal is required to examine critically the need for the project, the full range of options available to address that need and the preferred options that offer the best value for money. If the project benefits the local community and stands up to the scrutiny of the economic appraisal, I do not foresee a problem. For clarity, I hope that that sets out exactly the issues that we are trying to work through. The Member will also be very aware that I am keen to make sure that we spend every available penny in these communities. I am very keen to do that, so there is absolutely no barrier from DARD's point of view in trying to get that project spend on the ground.

Photo of Karen McKevitt Karen McKevitt Social Democratic and Labour Party

On the distribution of the European Fisheries Fund moneys, will the Minister give us an idea of what onshore job creation there has been in Kilkeel and Ardglass through that much welcomed investment?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

The investment was much welcomed. I do not have the stats with me on job creation, but the Member will be aware of some of the really worthwhile projects that have been brought forward under EFF funding. Obviously, that pot of money is now closed, but we look forward to the new pot of funding and all the opportunities that there will be for the industry and the local community that surrounds the fishing villages. I am happy to provide the Member with the job creation figures in writing.

Photo of John Dallat John Dallat Social Democratic and Labour Party

That ends the period for listed questions. We will now move on to topical questions.