(Cavan) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if Bord Iascaigh Mhara pay a grant towards the cost of imported boxes but do not pay a grant in respect of home manufactured boxes; and, if so, if he will explain the reason for this policy and take steps to have grants paid in respect of home manufactured boxes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fish Box Grants.
28.
No grant is paid towards the cost of imported fish boxes out of the funds provided for An Bord Iascaigh Mhara from the Exchequer. The Fishing Industry Development Committee, for which the board provides secretarial and other services, has operated a scheme in recent years whereby Irish fishermen, fish processors, wholesalers and retailers could obtain grants from the committee's funds towards the cost of purchase of approved plastic fish boxes. These funds are private funds contributed by the fish trade and decisions regarding their disposal are a matter for the committee. The purpose of the grant scheme for plastic fish boxes was to encourage the use of a box that would improve the quality and appearance of Irish fish. No plastic box of Irish manufacture was on the market at the time of the scheme and, as the scheme was intended only as a promotional project to initiate interest in the plastic type of box, it has served its purpose and has since been suspended.
(Cavan): Would the Parliamentary Secretary be surprised to know that I have been informed that a co-operative in County Donegal did receive a grant of, I think, £1 or £1.50 in respect of imported boxes but that when the same co-operative applied for a grant in respect of plastic boxes purchased from Star Plastics, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, a grant was refused, and that these boxes manufactured in Ballyconnell are considerably cheaper than the imported boxes?
The position is as I have stated in my reply, that this scheme was initiated in 1970 by the development committee I have already mentioned. However, this was before Star Plastics, Ballyconnell, County Cavan, came into production. It is very satisfactory to us now that they are in a position to supply the boxes and at a much cheaper rate than the foreign boxes. This business of encouraging the use of plastic boxes was well worthwhile.
Will the subsidy be discontinued now?
Yes. It was for the purpose of encouraging the use of plastic boxes.
It was a confidence trick.
(Cavan): Do I understand that no grants are payable now either in respect of imports or otherwise?
No grants are paid. In other words, the scheme has been suspended.