Liadh calls on coastal communities to apply for EU funding before March 15th

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada is encouraging coastal communities to ensure they get their applications for FLAG funding in before the deadline.

Applications for grants from Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAG) boards are open until 5pm on Wednesday the 15th of March.

“With less than two weeks to go to the deadline I would encourage all communities that fall within the various FLAG regions to ensure they have their applications completed and ready,” she said.

“FLAG funding is vital to coastal communities and can greatly assist in revitalising struggling towns and villages where fishing is the main, sometimes sole industry.

“For those not aware of the body it is a community lead diversification initiative that helps traditional fishing communities expand into areas such a tourism, heritage, aquaculture and other sectors so that they aren’t relying solely on an ever more stretched industry.

“It’s a fantastic initiative and one that last year saw investments of €1.98m in Cork, €1.80m in Clare and Galway and €1.68m in the Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford regions.

“My only complaint would be that the scheme does such good I believe a far bigger chunk of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund should be diverted towards it rather than being lavished on the SFPA. This was a point I made last month when funding was announced and a point I will continue to arge for as further tranches of funding are negotiated and released.

“If any community groups requires assistance with their applications I would urge them to contact my office in Cork via [email protected]”