The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the award of further grants worth €1.2 million to 56 local community groups and micro enterprises by the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups established under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme. The grants are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Announcing the grant awards, Minister McConalogue said:
I am delighted to announce today a further 56 coastal projects to benefit from EMFF funding through the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups established as part of my Department’s EMFF Programme supporting the development of our seafood sector and coastal communities. These latest grant awards mean a total of €2.7 million FLAG funding has been awarded this year alone to 155 coastal projects.
Minister McConalogue added:
Many of the projects benefitting from EMFF FLAG funding are non-commercial projects benefitting the whole community in their coastal area. Such projects can often secure up to 80% of the project cost, making a real difference to the viability of such projects. This is just one of the ways in which my Department’s EMFF Programme is making a real difference for our coastal communities.
Details of the FLAG scheme and how to apply can be found at www.bim.ie/schemes/
Notes for the Editor
The EMFF Operational Programme was launched in January 2016. The Programme provides €240m in funding to the seafood sector (fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing) over the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme is co-funded by the Exchequer and the EU.
FLAG, Fisheries Local Area Action Group (2014 – 2020) is a coastal community development strategy with a fund of €12 million for 7 designated Irish coastal communities. The 7 FLAGs are South FLAG (Cork), Southwest (Kerry, Limerick), South East (Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow) West, (Galway, Clare), Northwest (Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim), North (Donegal), and North East (Dublin, Louth, Meath).
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Seafood Development Agency, assists FLAGs to deliver this scheme through administering supports via grant-aid, training and on the ground facilitation, with dedicated regional FLAG coordinators in each region.
The grant awards were as follows:
FLAG | Number projects | Total Investment | Grant Awards |
NorthWest | 9 | €313,800 | €209,748 |
NorthEast | 4 | €364,148 | €204,318 |
South | 4 | €358,518 | €204,842 |
Southeast | 9 | €273,678 | €216,865 |
Southwest | 1 | €10,000 | €5,000 |
West | 7 | €270,577 | €194,139 |
North | 22 | €416,190 | €243,164 |
TOTAL | 56 | €2,006,911 | €1,278,077 |
Details of the individual grant awards are set out below for each of the 7 FLAGs.
FLAG North
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Cumann Staire agus Seanchais na nOileán | Cumann Staire agus Seanchais na nOileán (benches) Phase 2 | 80% | 2,300.00 | 1,840.00 |
Inver Community Centre Company Limited by Guarantee | Inver Community Centre - Enhancing an Existing Community Asset Phase 2 | 80% | 4,995.64 | 3,996.51 |
Forest View Lodges | Forest View Lodges Phase 2 | 40% | 16,500.00 | 6,600.00 |
Uachtar Reoite Bunglas | Uachtar Reoite Bunglas Phase 2 | 40% | 22,497.00 | 8,998.80 |
Croi na Farraige/Heart of the Sea - Digital Media Maritime Heritage Project & TV Documentary | Inishowen Community Media Network (ICMN) Phase 2 | 80% | 12,250.00 | 9,800.00 |
Áislann Chill Chartha | Riverside Cáfe, The Áislann Phase 2 | 80% | 12,755.50 | 10,204.40 |
Atlantic Coastal Cruises | Underwater Drone | 50% | 4,454.00 | 2,227.00 |
Niall Sweeney | Improving Local Services | 40% | 7,950.00 | 3,180.00 |
Gola Island Outdoor Education | Launch and retrieval of rescue craft / Transportation of equipment to main pier. (Trailer, Kayaks etc.) | 50% | 9,300.00 | 4,650.00 |
Seirbhísí Mara An Uillinn Teo | Provision of a crane on workboat | 50% | 12,000.00 | 6,000.00 |
Laurentic Legacy | The Ulster Canada Initiative | 80% | 9,066.00 | 7,252.80 |
Michael Bonner Engineering | Provision of a Mobile Sand Blasting Unit | 40% | 24,500.00 | 9,800.00 |
Donegal Bay Rowing Club | Safety Boat Upgrade | 80% | 12,965.00 | 10,372.00 |
Donegal Bay Sub Aqua Club Search & Recovery | St John's Point - railings | 80% | 17,600.00 | 14,080.00 |
Niall Mór Community & Enterprise Centre | Centre Upgrade | 80% | €18,725.00 | €14,980.00 |
Malin Head Fishermans Co-operative Society | Fork Lift | 60% | €29,500.00 | €17,700.00 |
LAN Ctr (Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha Cuideachta faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta) | Ag Leathnú Cumais (Added Capacity) | 80% | €25,118.00 | €20,094.40 |
Seabound Engineering Ltd | Mobile generator and other specialized engineering equipment | 50% | €16,600.00 | €8,300.00 |
Donegal County Council |
| 60% | €24,000.00 | €14,400.00 |
Donegal County Council | Ice Making Equipment for Rannagh Pier | 70% | €30,474.50 | €21,332.15 |
Total Fitness PLC | Total Fitness Outdoor Project | 40% | €39,640.00 | €15,856.00 |
Killybegs Catch Ltd. Trading as Shines Seafood | Head office and storage unit refurbishment | 50% | €63,000.00 | €31,500.00 |
Total | 416,190.64 | 243,164.06 |
FLAG NorthWest
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Eachtrai UISCE Teoranta T/A UISCE |
| 50% | 35,504.00 | 17,752.00 |
Ballyglass Crew Yachtmaster | Ballyglass Crew Yachtmaster | 50% | 5,300.00 | 2,650.00 |
Sligo County Council | Temporary Pontoon Project | 60% | 53,994.74 | 32,396.84 |
Newport 300 | Year long celebration of 300 year History | 80% | 27,043.00 | 21,634.40 |
Grainne Uaile Search & Recovery Unit | Dry suits & surface suits for diving & surface searching | 80% | 11,061.00 | 8,848.80 |
Bia Mara Inis Toirc | Bia Mara Inis Toirc | 50% | 23,655.98 | 11,827.99 |
Cumann Iascairí Chois Chósta Iorrais Teo | Mobile Boat Lifting Trailer | 80% | 90,000.00 | 72,000.00 |
Sligo Yacht Club | Improve the facilities at Sligo Yacht Club | 60% | 55,775.00 | 33,465.00 |
Muintir a' Chorrain Teo | Maritime Information Boards | 80% | 11,466.44 | 9,173.15 |
Total | 313,800.16 | 209,748.18 |
FLAG NorthEast
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Fingal County Council | Fingal Operational and Technical Harbour Marine Supports Pilot Project | 100% | 30,000.00 | 30,000.00 |
Irish Commercial Charter Boats | Purchase of new workboat | 50% | 160,000.00 | 80,000.00 |
Skerries Rowing Club | Design Team Fees for Skerries Rowing Club Boathouse | 80% | 61,648.00 | 49,318.40 |
WSHI Limited trading as Howth Castle Cookery School | The Howth Castle Cookery School | 40% | 112,500.00 | 45,000.00 |
Total | 364,148.00 | 204,318.40 |
FLAG SouthWest
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Caherciveen Rowing Club | Seine Boat Restoration | 50% | 10,000.00 | 5,000.00 |
Total | 10,000.00 | €5,000.00 |
FLAG South
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Lawrence Cove Ferries Ltd | Crane Upgrade for Vessel ‘An tOileanach’ | 50% | 197,000.00 | 98,500.00 |
Fish Seafood Deli Ltd | The Fresh Fish Deli | 50% | 100,806.00 | 50,403.00 |
Cork County Council | Provision of Sweeper for collection of Net Repair Trimmings, Union Hall, Baltimore & Kinsale | 100% | 36,850.00 | 36,850.00 |
Aghada Sea Scout Group (Scouting Ireland) | Safety Boat Upgrade | 80% | 23,862.00 | 19,089.60 |
Total | 358,518.00 | 204,842.60 |
FLAG West
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Galway Bay Seafoods Ltd | Galway Docklands Experiences | 50% | 4,950.00 | 2,475.00 |
Ionad na Feamainne | Ionad Suathaireachta na Feamainne - The Seaweed Therapy / Holistic centre | 80% | 107,911.00 | 86,328.80 |
Bláth na Mara Teoranta - Aran Islands Seaweed | eCommerce development for new retail product line and tourism & education aspect | 50% | 20,992.00 | 10,496.00 |
M O Malley Shellfish | Upgrade access to and renovate existing grading shed and holding tanks | 40% | 29,224.00 | 11,689.60 |
Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teoranta | Sales & Marketing & Branding Campaign for Bia Farraige Arann - Seaweed Processing | 80% | 35,000.00 | 28,000.00 |
Killary Fjord Shellfish Ltd | Hard-framed weather proof long gazebo | 50% | 9,500.00 | 4,750.00 |
Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teoranta | Up grading of seaweed processing facility | 80% | 63,000.00 | 50,400.00 |
Total | €270,577.00 | €194,139.40 |
FLAG SouthEast
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Helen Blake Community Group | Preparation, Development and Marketing of Helen Blake Replica Lifeboat as a Major Tourist Attraction | 80% | 87,141.19 | 69,712.95 |
Rathangan Senior Citizens Housing Association CLG | McCall's Community Centre | 80% | 70,060.00 | 56,048.00 |
Waterford Institute of Technology (on behalf of the Creaden Project Steering Group). | Creaden Project | 80% | 72,399.10 | 57,919.28 |
Greystones Sailing Club | Junior and Adult sail training programme | 80% | 9,900.00 | 7,920.00 |
Ray McGrath | Gaultier Heritage Rambles book. The book is entitled Heritage Rambles in Gaultier, Waterford's Maritime Barony | 50% | 6,925.00 | 3,462.50 |
Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club | Upgrading/replacement of old canoes | 80% | 5,238.00 | 4,190.40 |
6th Wexford (Tuskar) Sea Scouts | Provision of Sea Scout Pontoon in Small Boat Safe, Rosslare Hbr | 80% | 7,767.83 | 6,214.26 |
Tintern Trails Committee | To purchase and install a suitable external sign at the entrance to Tintern site. | 80% | 4,867.00 | 3,893.60 |
Cheekpoint Development Group | Cheekpoint Lower Harbour Wall Painting | 80% | 9,380.00 | 7,504.00 |
Total | 273,678.12 | 216,865.00 |
Overall Total | 2,006,911.92 | 1,278,077.64 |