asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the present cash price of a 50-foot fishing boat, excluding gear, ready for sea at the Bord Iascaigh Mhara boat building yard, (b) the price under the hire purchase scheme and the minimum deposit to be paid, and (c) the cash price of a similarly built 50-foot fishing boat at British and continental ship yards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices of Fishing Boats.
I am informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that the prices of fishing boats vary according to the specifications of the vessels and the equipment installed and it is not accordingly possible to give a standard price for a particular class of boat. The average cash price of the 50-foot boats constructed by the board in the 12 months ended 3rd November, 1955, ready for sea but exclusive of gear, was £7,358, which was also the average issue price (excluding interest) under hire purchase contracts. The minimum prepayment in respect of new boats is 10 per cent. No information is available to the board as to costs of 50-foot fishing boats, similar to those constructed by them, produced in British or continental yards as quotations against specifications have not been recently sought.