€50 million injection for Killybegs seafood sector

A €50 million funding has been introduced to improve fish processing firms in Killybegs and to safe native jobs.

A number of firms are modernising seafood processing amenities and including cutting-edge vitality effectivity initiatives, in accordance with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

Two of the companies making substantial investments, with the help of the Brexit Course of Capital Assist Scheme, are Gallagher Bros. (Fish Retailers) Ltd and Killybegs Seafoods.

Between them they’ve been allotted the highest two highest grants below the scheme, totalling €12.1 million, and are spending a complete of €31 million.

The scheme, carried out by BIM, was beneficial by the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Meals and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D.

As the shortage of provide of fish stays a problem, is envisaged that the funding in numerous Killybegs primarily based firms will make it a extra engaging location for fishing vessels to land and discharge catch that may in any other case go to the UK, mainland Europe, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Managing Director of Killybegs Seafoods, John McGuinness, mentioned the corporate’s complete funding is a part of a long-term technique to make sure sustainability of the enterprise, and to take care of employment within the Killybegs area.

“The first goal of this funding is to deliver transformational change to the enterprise, enabling us to course of bigger volumes of fish extra effectively, and to create capability for the event of elevated value-added produce, primarily mackerel fillets,” mentioned Mr McGuinness.

Mr McGuiness mentioned the event addresses key dangers the corporate is at present going through together with diminished mackerel quotas, elevated vitality prices and issue in hiring seasonal workers.

“All of those components have the potential for a big influence on the corporate’s efficiency,” he mentioned. “We’d not have launched into this mission with out the help of BIM and the Brexit Course of Capital Assist Scheme. That was the set off for us to make the leap.”

Killybegs Seafoods was based in 1968 by John McGuinness’s father, Sean, grandfather, Josie and two different companions, Seamus Tully and Paddy Gallagher. John and his brothers Eamon and Donal joined the enterprise within the early Nineteen Nineties and a couple of,000s. In the course of the busy season the enterprise employs 90 native individuals.

In the meantime like Killybegs Seafoods Gallagher Bros. (Fish Retailers) may be very a lot a household enterprise. Established greater than 100 years in the past in 1919 by brothers Jack and Phil Gallagher, it employs 100 workers within the busy season.

Director, Davd Gallagher, a 3rd era member of the family, mentioned the multi million euro funding will see a brand new plant and automation course of rework the vitality efficiencies inside manufacturing.

The event is a part of Gallagher Bros Mission Inexperienced Manufacturing facility Improve which is able to enhance the emphasis on additional processing of Mackerel and Blue Whiting merchandise.

“We had plans to improve earlier than Brexit occurred, and every little thing stalled,” David Gallagher continued “The Brexit Course of Capital Assist Scheme grant via BIM was the shot within the arm we would have liked to be extra audacious. We’re very excited now in regards to the future.

“We will goal extra premium prospects and the automated system will allow a flexibility in manufacturing to supply high-quality mackerel fillets.”

Funded by the European Union below the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), the Brexit Course of Capital Assist Scheme will ship as much as €45M in funding to the Irish seafood sector.

BIM CEO, Caroline Bocquel, welcomed the funding in Killybegs, which she mentioned is an important centre for the fish processing sector in Eire. “It is important that our seafood processing firms are innovating and maintain updated with automation applied sciences and vitality efficiencies in an effort to stay aggressive.”

“The Brexit Course of Capital Assist Scheme helps fish processors with transformational change, and constructing extra environmentally pleasant, sustainable and aggressive enterprises.”

She added: “Within the wake of diminished provide of uncooked materials, the scheme is important in supporting capital investments that put an emphasis on “creating extra from much less”, encouraging processers to supply larger worth product and deal with secondary processing and past.”

Different seafood processors in Killybegs who make up the entire €50 million funding embrace Norfish Ltd, Premier Fish Merchandise, Donegal Fish, Sean Ward Fish Exports, Island Seafoods and Albatross Seafoods.

€50 million injection for Killybegs seafood sector was final modified: October fifth, 2023 by Employees Author