CASH FOR MARINE PROJECTS
SOUTH EAST FLAG funding, to be delivered through Bord Iascaigh Mhara to coastal projects in Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford was announced by Minister of State Andrew Doyle in Arklow recently.
The latest sum will see 29 projects across the three counties benefit from a total investment fund of €645,000.
This includes a figure of €177,625 to be spent on Arklow to imporove storage facilities for fishermen, a hoist upgrade and restoration of the lightship ‘SKUA’ lantern.
Wicklow County Council will also contribute €76,125 to the Arklow projects.
The South East FLAG is one of seven FLAG regions from Ireland’s coastline that will benefit from the FLAG scheme, administered by BIM, Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, which is co-funded by the Exchequer and the EU under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme 2014-2020. Over the duration of the EMFF programme, the national FLAG scheme will deliver €12 million in funding to Ireland’s coastal communities.
Speaking at the South East FLAG funding launch at the Arklow Bay Hotel, Minister of State Andrew Doyle said: ‘I am delighted to be here today in Arklow to announce details of the Southeast FLAG first funding allocation for the South East FLAG.
‘Some 29 diverse and innovative projects are being supported with grant aid of €423,000 across Wicklow, Waterford and Wexford that will deliver a total investment of over €645,000. The focus on the diversity and innovation is hugely evident and the projects coming forward are responding to a wide range of needs, services and skills in the seafood and wider marine sector.
‘At the heart of these communities are the fishermen but so too is the marine heritage and ancillary facilities and of course fish and seafood all of which are being promoted through many inspiring projects in the Southeast FLAG.’
The second project approved for County Wicklow comes under the category of coastal rowing.
‘This showcases social inclusion, traditional skills in the marine sector and also the links with tourism in terms of the Coastal Rowing and the opportunities this product creates in communities and as a health and wellbeing service.
‘Two projects in the Southeast are excellent examples of this, Vartry Rowing Club in Wicklow and St Kearns Rowing Club in Wexford,’ said Deputy Doyle.