This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fishing Transitional Aid deadline extended
31/07/2003
An extended deadline has been set for the receipt of any
further applications for aid under the Fishing Transitional
Support Grant Scheme.
Vessel owners will have until August 31 this year to
submit any further applications for aid under the
scheme.
Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross
Finnie said:
"When I announced details of the transitional aid scheme
earlier this month applicants were set a tight deadline of
July 31. This was to try and ensure prompt receipt of
applications and payment of grant to fishermen and also to
help us assess likely scheme uptake.
"We have now decided to allow those who have yet to
submit an application a further month to do so. However,
this will not delay consideration of existing applications
and payment of grant to those who qualify. Applications
received by July 31 will be considered in advance of those
submitted under the extended deadline.
"It is hoped that the Executive will be in a position to
begin making grant payments under the transitional aid
scheme within the next week or so."
The intention to operate a £10m Transitional Support
Grant scheme, as part of a £50 million package of support
for the fishing industry, was announced by Ross Finnie in
January this year.
The scheme is subject to EC State Aid approval, received
earlier this month. Detailed arrangements for the scheme,
including the original July 31 deadline for aid
applications, were announced and guidance issued to
industry on July 10.