Donegal groups are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAG) Coastal Communities Development Scheme 2025 – 2029 by local Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue.
The scheme will provide funding of €15 million over the coming years to support economic development in coastal communities.
A key strength of this scheme is that it supports community-led local development, with the priorities for funding set out in the Local Development Strategies prepared by each of the seven Fisheries Local Action Groups.
“I believe that the FLAG initiative has significant additional potential 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 Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy commented.
The scheme is implemented under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme, which is jointly funded by the Irish government and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
“The scheme will build on the supports delivered under a similar scheme implemented previously, and also on the supports provided under the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, which provided over €13.2 million in funding to 369 beneficiaries operating in the blue economy within 10km of the coast over the course of 2022 and 2023.
“This community-led funding programme is intended to enhance the economic opportunities and social sustainability of areas dependent on fishing and aquaculture. FLAGs were first established in Ireland in 2012 and since then each FLAG Board has played a vital role in supporting the development of their local coastal communities,” Minister McConalogue added.
Each FLAG Board will be opening calls for applications in the coming weeks. For details on how to apply for funding from your local FLAG, visit: BIM.ie
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