420. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total current and capital annual budget allocated by his Department to the Marine Institute for each of the years 2025 and 2026; if he will provide a breakdown of any additional co-funding or external program funding channelled through his Department to the institute in those years; the projected cost of increasing this overall budget allocation by 5% and 10% respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46409/26]

The funding allocated by my Department provides for the current and capital costs of the Marine Institute (MI) to enable it to perform its core functions. This includes research and data collection underpinning the Common Fisheries Policy; co-coordinating, promoting and assisting in marine research and development and providing such services related to marine research and development that facilitate marine economic development while protecting the marine environment.

The funding allocated by my Department to the Marine Institute is as follows, figures are taken from the Revised book of estimates published following annual budget process:

The funding allocated by my Department to the Marine Institute for 2025 was €45,063,000 and is €45,438,000 for 2026.

As well as the allocation provided by my Department, the Seafood Development Programme co-funded by the Government and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) channels financial resources to support the Common Fisheries Policy, the EU Maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. Funding from this fund provided to the MI for 2025 was €3,995,000 and the allocation for 2026 is €3,755,000.