The Fisheries Act 2020 (Scheme for Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations establish a scheme in relation to Northern Ireland for the giving of grants under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 6 to the Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22).

Part 1 of these Regulations contains general introductory provisions.

Part 2 of these Regulations provides for the establishment of the scheme.

Part 3 of these Regulations makes provision for the payment of grants by the Department for the purposes specified in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 6 to the Fisheries Act 2020.

Regulations 4 and 5 set out the basis on which the Department may pay grants.

Regulations 6 to 8 lay down a procedure for applications for a grant.

Regulation 9 provides that a person can seek a review of the decision for the application for grant.

Regulation 10 makes payment of a grant dependent on the Department being satisfied as to the expenditure incurred, or to be incurred, and compliance with any conditions of approval of the grant.

Regulation 11 makes provision for the method of payment of the grant.

Regulation 12 makes payment conditional on the applicant retaining the relevant records and notifying the Department of any material change in circumstances.

Regulation 13 provides for the variation, suspension and revocation of any approval of a grant.

Regulation 14 provides that the Department may, by notice, require the repayment of a grant if certain conditions are not satisfied and provides that sums outstanding may be recovered as a civil debt.

Regulation 15 confers an enforcement function on officers of the Department for the enforcement of any offence or suspected offence committed in relation to an application for a grant under this scheme (for example, an offence under the Fraud Act 2006 (c. 35)).

Regulation 16 places an obligation on the Department to publish specified information relating to any grants paid out under the scheme.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.