382. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the fishing and aquaculture registered vessel fuel support scheme, if he will clarify whether the purpose of the scheme is to offset fuel costs already borne by fishing vessel owners or to offset current and future fuel costs; if guidelines are issued to beneficiaries of the scheme, outlining that share fishers working on the eligible vessels and who bear a share of high cost of fuel should benefit equitably from the proceeds of the scheme; where share fishers are excluded from benefiting equitably from the proceeds of the scheme, the way in which they seek remedy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48565/26]

The Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme is a targeted scheme designed to assist owners of fishing and aquaculture vessels to offset the increased cost of fuel experienced as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. The scheme will cover the months of March up to the end of July 2026, which are a critical time in the fisheries calendar. It is a straightforward scheme aimed at those most impacted by the sudden increase in the cost of fuel.

The scheme is open to owners of fishing vessels which must be registered on the Irish Fleet Register at the time of grant application and who must have been actively fishing from March to July in 2025. As set out in the scheme detail aid amounts will be calculated based on verified fuel invoices within a defined historical period. The scheme is restricted to applications from vessel owners as the sole beneficiaries, with eligibility, payments, and appeals processes applying only to them. The scheme introduces no instruction to vessel owners on how they manage their business relationship with share fishermen. Any such discussions are a matter for discussion between the relevant vessel owner and the share fishermen.