The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today announced the award of 62 grants worth €915,295 by the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups established under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme. The grants are awarded to 62 mostly local coastal community groups and micro enterprises. The grants are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Announcing the grant awards, Minister McConalogue said: “The FLAG Scheme under my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme has been a huge success. With the grant awards I am announcing today, the seven FLAGs have now successfully dispersed their full €12 million allocation under my Department’s EMFF Programme. The FLAG Scheme has been operating since just 2017, following a short pilot in the previous programme and has gone from strength to strength. This is testament not just to the demand for such local development funding in our coastal communities but very much to the hard work of the local volunteers, many drawn from our seafood and wider marine sectors, who make up the boards of each of our seven FLAGs”.
Minister McConalogue added: “I believe that the FLAG initiative has significant additional potential in the years ahead to further drive start-ups and the development of seafood and marine businesses in our coastal communities and can be a key element of our strategy in mitigating the impacts of Brexit on our coastal communities”.
The FLAG scheme is now closed, having expended its full allocation and a process will be initiated as part of the preparation of the new Seafood Development Programme 2021-27 to appoint FLAGs for the next programme period. The new FLAGs will be operational in 2022.
Details of the FLAG scheme can be found here.
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 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 |
West | 4 | €82,704 | €42,158 |
North West | 16 | €568,752 | €272,959 |
North | 10 | €618,558 | €306,347 |
North East | 3 | €56,534 | €45,227 |
South East | 4 | €49,265 | €38,236 |
South West | 12 | €247,334 | €107,842 |
South | 13 | €193,729 | €102,523 |
TOTAL | 62 | €1,816,879 | €915,295 |
Details of the individual grant awards are set out below for each of the seven FLAGs.
FLAG West
Applicant | Project Title | Support Rate % | Investment | Grant |
Séamus O'Flatharta | Inis Oírr Glamping and Campsite | 40 | €17,460 | €6,984 |
Oranmore Castle | Oranmore Castle Cultural Centre | 40 | €42,553 | €17,021 |
Cuan Beo CLG | Cuan Beo - Implementing a holistic approach to sustainability in Galway Bay 2020 | 80 | €16,191 | €12,953 |
Spiddal Craft & Design Centre | Online marketing campaign | 80 | €6,500 | €5,200 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €42,158 |
FLAG North West
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Ballyglass Crew | Ballyglass Crew Yachtmaster | 50 | €5,300 | €2,650 |
Eachtrai UISCE Teoranta T/A UISCE | Training application | 50 | €21,741 | €10,870 |
Sligo Rowing Club Co Ltd | Purchase of Safety Launch Boat | 80 | €9,185 | €7,348 |
Bellacragher Boat Club | Printing of Claggan Ferry Maps, Drop down Banners, Social media promotion, Signs and provision of two RIB Shore Trailers | 60 | €15,539 | €9,323 |
Todhchaí Phobail Acla | To assess the feasibility of Achill Island becoming a community owned electricity and hydrogen producer through wind power. | 80 | €24,280 | €19,424 |
Ballycroy Community Council Ltd | Ballycroy Greenway Desktop feasibility with potential design works | 80 | €15,000 | €12,000 |
Mayo County Council | Feasibility study on the construction of a slipway on Clare Island | 60 | €25,000 | €15,000 |
Mayo County Council | Westport Lido (Outdoor Swimming Pool - Tidal) | 50 | €24,944 | €12,500 |
The Lost Valley | Support coastal heritage and tourism by improvements to access route | 40 | €99,518 | €39,807 |
Rosses Point Development Association CLG & Sligo County Council | Feasibility Study for Sligo Community Boat Park | 25 | €193,860 | €48,465 |
Belderrig Dev Committee Ltd | Restoration of Road to Carpark at Belderrig Harbour | 50 | €41,841 | €20,920 |
Tullaghan Development Association | Developing Marine tourism for County Leitrim | 80 | €1,861 | €1,489 |
St. Colman's Care Centre CLG | St. Colman's Care Centre - upgrade existing facilities & equipment | 80 | €56,515 | €45,212 |
River Moy Search and Rescue Ballina CLG | Water conservation in the Moy Catchment area | 80 | €6,096 | €4,877 |
Leitrim County Council | Feasibility Study - Exploring sea access at Leitrim consultation scoping document - Wild Atlantic Way | 100 | €3,075 | €3,075 |
Neart Acla CTR | Achill Traditional Currach Project | 80 | €24,996 | €19,996 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €272,959 |
FLAG North
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Iontaobhas Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair | Rochtain do chathaoireacha rothaí, ráillí láimhe agus balla carrchlóis | 80 | €44,000 | €35,200 |
Glenties Community Playgroup Limit4ed | To develop a creative and imaginative outdoor environment which will be designed to a Nautical Pirate Theme | 80 | €39,500 | €31,600 |
Ardara Artists Resource Centre | Renovate existing building in Ardara to enable it to be used by the community | 80 | €48,750 | €39,000.00 |
St. Catherine's Vocational School | learning in area of cultural, arts, marine | 80 | €49,455 | €39,564.00 |
Donegal County Council | Provision of Scenic Viewing Points and improved tourism access, Melmore , Downings Donegal | 60 | €52,300 | €31,380.00 |
18th Donegal Moville Port Sea Scouts | RYA Level 1 & 2 Power Boat, RYA Foundation Safety Rescue Training, RYA Sail T | 51 | €4,800 | €2,448.00 |
Cara Na nOilean Teo | Modernisation of Ferry "Coll" | 32 | €96,087 | €30,747.84 |
Mullinasole Bay Water Sports Club | Mullinasole Bay Access Regeneration Phase 1 | 51 | €63,400 | €32,334.00 |
KT Nets | Upgrade of facilities at KT nets | 32 | €128,666 | €41,173.12 |
Teach Bhillie | Síneadh agus uasghradú le foirgneach Theach Bhillie | 25 | €91,600 | €22,900.00 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €306,347.44 |
FLAG North East
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Baldoyle Forum Clg | Baldoyle Community Hall Development Feasibility Study | 80 | €10,000 | €8,000 |
Rush Tourism | Pirate Sculpture for Rush | 80 | €11,604 | €9,283 |
Skerries Rowing Club | Design Team Fees for Skerries Rowing Club Boathouse | 80 | €34,930 | €27,944 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €45,227 |
FLAG South East
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Ladies Cove Community Coastal Project | Improvement works to Ladies Cove | 80 | €30,687 | €24,549 |
Bannow Historical Society | Training in Maritime Heritage Preservation and Celebration | 80 | €12,728 | €10,182 |
Passage East Hurling Club | Beat the Ferryman Swim | 60 | €1,670 | €1,000 |
Hook Rural Tourism Ltd | Hike to the Hook 2020 & Social Media Development | 60 | €4,180 | €2,504 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €38,236 |
FLAG South West
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Valentia Island Way | Cookery school and demonstration kitchen | 37 | €21,657 | €7,997 |
Irish Coastal Rowing Federation | All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships 2021 | 80 | €20,548 | €16,438 |
Dingle Sea Safari Limited | Passenger Vessel | 50 | €50,460 | €25,000 |
Patrick Browne | Supply of Local Markets with "Fish from boat to table " directly from MFV Ocean Dawn | 50 | €5,340 | €2,670 |
Badoiri an Bhlascaoid Teoranta | Self-drive hire boats | 25 | €44,142 | €11,035 |
Kerry Aqua Terra Limited | Boat, equipment and crew protection from elements | 50 | €4,950 | €2,475 |
The Dingle Way | Coastal Trail , Cultural Marine Information Boards and Seating Areas. | 80 | €12,196 | €9,757 |
Valentia Rowing Club | one design rowing racing boat & 0ars, traditional 4 oar boat trailer & launching trolley | 77 | €6,500 | €5,000 |
Irish Elasmobranch Group | Underwater survey drone | 80 | €8,480 | €6,784 |
Blascaoid Mór Teoranta | Equipment Boat Package | 25 | €23,163 | €5,790 |
Dingle Harbour Boat Hire | Purchase of equipment and boats | 28 | €47,894 | €13,293 |
Éigse na Brídeoige | Éigse Online: A series of performances, talks, seminars and interviews on the song tradition of Kerry | 80 | €2,000 | €1,600 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €107,842 |
FLAG South
Applicant | Project Title | Rate % | Total Cost | Grant Aid |
Cumann Na Daoine | building community resilience and understanding of climate change as it will impact very directly on coastal communities | 80 | €6,751 | €5,401 |
Ellen Hutchins Festival | She Gathered Seaweed on the Seashore: Celebrating the Botany of Bantry Bay | 62 | €3,250 | €2,000 |
Ard na Gaoithe | Support to sustain and diversify Ard na Gaoithe B&B and Cape Clear Foodie Stall | 40 | €2,562 | €1,024 |
Roaring Water Marine | Equipment to expand business. | 50 | €1,719 | €859 |
Bantry Bay Boat Hire Limited | New Kayaks, Equipment & Boat Engine | 50 | €9,325 | €4,662 |
Roaring Water Sea Vegetable Company Limited | Roaring Water Sea Vegetable Co processing unit | 50 | €17,490 | €8,745 |
Schull Regatta | Schull Regatta 2021 | 40 | €4,821 | €2,000 |
Galley Flash Rowing Club | Maximising equipment resources 2021 Sculling Oars | 80 | €1,060 | €848 |
Skibbereen Rowing Club | Safety Launch | 80 | €8,275 | €6,620 |
ZT Fish Company Limited | Mobile Retail Unit | 50 | €23,495 | €11,747 |
Travara Shellfish Limited | Infrastructure and equipment | 50 | €23,827 | €11,913 |
Myross Rowing Club Company Limited | Club fleet upgrade | 65 | €7,750 | €5,000 |
Allihies Seafood Limited | Developing a sustainable micro algae cultivation and processing facility | 50 | €83,401 | €41,700 |
| | | | |
| | Total | | €102,523 |
| | | | |
| GRAND TOTAL | | €1,816,879 | €915,295 |