The National Development Plan's provision for spending £1.3 billion on the marine and natural resource sectors was hailed as "unprecedented" by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, in Dublin Castle yesterday.
Most of the EU money will be spent in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region, comprising investment of almost £709 million.
The Minister has also redefined the role of his Department as "the main driver of economic development in coastal and peripheral communities".
This would also extend to many parts of rural Ireland "that have yet to see the full benefit of the Celtic Tiger", he said.
The Minister and the Minister of State, Mr Hugh Byrne, have already approved and released key features of the marine and natural resources allocation in the NDP, including renewal of the whitefish fleet (announced in Waterford last month); support programmes for fisheries and fish farming (announced in Galway); and aquaculture (announced in Wexford). The Taoiseach has also signed a contract for a marine research vessel.
Yesterday, Mr Fahey and Mr Byrne held a photo=call in Dublin Castle and published a full list of 38 projects.
The seafood sector, harbours, forestry, marinas, commercial ports, angling tourism, coastline protection and fish farming all stand to benefit, and there is emphasis on infrastructural development, education, training, marketing and research.
Mr Byrne, who holds responsibility for forestry and aquaculture, said these two sectors provided great scope for diversification in many communities.
A £721 million investment in forestry was destined to have a positive impact on balanced regional development, and it was his strongest belief that Irish aquaculture stood on the verge of securing and maintaining a stronghold in the niche European and world markets for premium, quality-assured produce.
The Minister, Mr Fahey, described the natural resources which would benefit from "this massive investment" as "huge in scale and rich in potential".
Ireland's marine-designated area amounted to almost 10 times its land area, he said, and total Irish forest cover represented the lowest proportion in the EU, at about 10 per cent of land area. The EU average is 36 per cent.
No details were given about the Department's new developmental role, or its relationship with the plethora of other agencies involved with spending in the BMW region.
However, a booklet has been published, entitled The National Development Plan: the Marine and Natural Resources Perspective, which outlines the range of funding initiatives and development supports. It was summarised in Dublin Castle yesterday by Mr Tony Bass, the Department's media and communications manager.
