Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 3

Written Answers. - Shipping Industry.

Ivor Callely

Question:

58 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the issues of priority with the shipping industry and the time schedule associated with these; the market share of Irish companies in this regard; the comparable figures for overseas companies in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3893/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The overall goal of my Department's policy for the shipping sector is to support and facilitate the development of a competitive Irish flagged and owned shipping sector, while maximising employment of Irish seafarers and ancillary shorebased personnel.

The key objectives I am seeking to achieve are: to increase market share for Irish shipping services; to increase demand for, and supply of, well trained Irish seafarers; and to maintain and increase the Irish pool of maritime expertise because of its spin off benefits for the marine sector generally. The strategies I am employing include: the application of a competitive fiscal regime for the Irish shipping sector and seafarers, support for the training of seafarers, and ongoing review, in close consultation with the shipping sector, of the development/employment potential of the sector, taking account of the report of the task force on seafarer training and employment which I set up last year.

On foot of the task force's report I secured the agreement in principle of the Government for a new national maritime college, which was the key recommendation of the task force. Arrangements are in hand to establish a high level interdepartmental working group which will be charged with examining the costings, financing and timing of the establishment of the new college with a view to submission of a fully developed proposal for implementation to Government at an early date.

I also secured a special £200,000 allocation in my Department's Vote for 1999 to advance work on the costings and scheduling for the new college. This special allocation will kick start the project by supporting the interdepartmental group in its work. I will also launch a major new promotional campaign shortly to encourage young people to take up careers at sea, as recommended by the task force. This special £150,000 three year programme, co-financed by the shipping industry and involving their active participation, will generate interest in careers at sea among our young people.

A range of other measures have been introduced in support of the shipping sector. Following representations which I made to the Minister for Finance, a new £5,000 seafarers income tax allowance was introduced in the Finance Act in 1998. I am hopeful that this allowance, in conjunction with the existing corporation tax and PRSI concessions enjoyed by the sector, will help the Irish shipping industry expand both the fleet and Irish seafarer employment. The question of strengthening existing fiscal alleviation measures for the industry is the subject of ongoing review having regard to what is permissible under the EU Community guidelines on State aid to maritime transport.

The specific sectoral statistics sought by the Deputy are not available from the Central Statistics Office. Departmental officials have been considering ways in which such information can be collated, on an ongoing basis, to underpin future policy development of the shipping sector.

The Deputy should also be aware that a consultancy review has been commissioned to examine the feasibility of developing the marine services area and increasing the size of the fleet. My Department is working closely with the consultants and the shipping industry in this study task, which I am advised is nearing completion.