Worry of ‘disparity’ in fisheries funding

Worry of ‘disparity’ in fisheries funding

12 October 2016

ARDGLASS harbour only received a fraction of EU funding made available for the Province’s three major fishing ports, a local politician has revealed.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath has been informed via an Assembly question he asked recently that since 2001, Ardglass received £1.3m in funding, compared to £9.6m invested in Kilkeel and just over £3m in Portavogie.

Mr McGrath fears the situation will be compounded by the UK’s decision to leave the EU as officials in Brussels will not be able to address what he described as the “funding disparity” between the three ports.

The MLA said as a result of Brexit, no further European funding will be made available for Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie and fears future investment in the ports by the UK government cannot be guaranteed.

“I have discovered there has been a massive disparity in the spread of EU funds to our local harbours with Kilkeel benefiting most, securing £9.6m over the past 15 years,” explained Mr McGrath.

“This is a disgraceful spread of EU funds and I intend to ask additional questions at the Assembly to find out why Ardglass only got less than 10 per cent of EU funding for harbours. I am also keen to ascertain what plans Stormont fisheries minister Michelle O’Neill has to redress this imbalance in the future.”

Mr McGrath said he would have expected departmental officials to have helped Ardglass secure more funding to help increase its capacity, expressing surprise this did not happen.

He added: “Securing additional funds for Ardglass must be a priority moving forward. However, this will be difficult as a result of the decision to leave the EU and access to the funding it provides. European funding will end and in the future we will be at the behest of the British Government when it comes to funding to develop local harbours.”