asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of persons in the State engaged full-time on fishery or other oceanographic research.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Research.
42.
The number of persons engaged full-time on sea fishery and oceanographic research in my Department and the semi-State bodies connected with it is nine. This number does not include personnel such as laboratory assistants, laboratory attendants and the skippers and crews of the Department's fishery research vessels whose work is complementary to that of the research officers, nor does it include full-time fishery research officers engaged partly on sea fishery and partly on inland fishery research. I have no information as to the numbers of research personnel employed elsewhere in the State.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say if this figure is looked on as being reasonably satisfactory or one that is in need of vast expansion? It will be a matter of agreement that the potential of our surrounding sea and our fresh water is absolutely vast and that if we do not exploit it ourselves very quickly others will do it for us. Therefore this would be a very high priority area for investment and I am sure there would be no conflict about that in any part of the House. Could the Parliamentary Secretary give us an indication of planned expansion, if such is contemplated?
43.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total sum expended within the State on sea fishery research in each of the years 1960-1969 and the different agencies which have spent these sums.
Figures are available only in relation to my Department and the semi-State bodies connected with it and are given for the financial years from 1960-61 to 1968-69.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it in the Official Report:—
Expenditure on Sea Fishery Research.
|
Year |
By Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Note 1) |
By Inland Fisheries Trust (Note 2) |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
1960-61 |
14,733 |
2,000 |
|
1961-62 |
14,983 |
2,200 |
|
1962-63 |
15,235 |
2,400 |
|
1963-64 |
22,036 |
2,600 |
|
1964-65 |
36,127 |
2,800 |
|
1965-66 |
40,763 |
3,000 |
|
1966-67 |
37,888 |
4,350 |
|
1967-68 |
34,809 |
4,550 |
|
1968-69 |
42,232 |
4,750 |
NOTES:
(1) To each of these figures must be added a sum covering the salaries, travelling and subsistence expenses of the officers concerned. For 1968-69 that sum was £20,557. Because of staff changes, alterations in salaries and expenses and the apportionment of those costs in the case of officers engaged partly on sea fishery and partly on inland fishery research, the corresponding figures for earlier years would now be extremely difficult to compile but are estimated to have increased from about £9,000 in the first year shown.
(2) In connection with shark, skate and other sea angling fish. The figures for the years from 1960-61 to 1967-68 are estimated.