asked the Minister for Fisheries if he will give details of the grants and loans presently available to fishermen to purchase (a) new fishing boats and (b) second-hand fishing boats: and the restrictions, if any, that apply to the payment of such grants and loans.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Financial Assistance to Fishermen .
36.
: State financial aid for the purchase of new and second-hand fishing boats by fishermen is provided under the marine credit plan administered by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The detailed information sought by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which, I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to have circulated in the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
(a) NEW FISHING BOATS
Boats up to 90 feet long—
Grant: 25 per cent of purchase price.
Loan: A loan up to a maximum of 70 per cent of the purchase price is available subject at present to an interest rate of 8 per cent per annum. The loan repayment period varies with the size of the boat as follows—
(i) under 50 feet—15 years maximum
(ii) 50 to 90 feet—12 years maximum.
Boats over 90 feet long—
At present the marine credit plan does not extend to boats over 90 feet long. Each application for financial aid is considered on its merits by BIM. New boats over 50 feet long are eligible for consideration for grants up to 25 per cent from the FEOGA Fund administered by the EEC Commission.
(b) SECOND-HAND FISHING BOATS
Grant: Nil
Loan: A maximum loan of 90 per cent of the valuation of the boat as made by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, is available subject at present to an interest rate of 8 per cent per annum. The length of the loan repayment period depends on the age and condition of the vessel, subject to a maximum period of 10 years.
Each application for financial aid is considered on its merits by BIM. No restrictions apply to the payment to approved applicants of grants and and loans for the purchase of fishing boats.
: May I ask the Minister whether grants and loans are confined to boats being built in BIM yards or in specially selected private yards?
: All our boatyards are open to fishermen and to the scheme. BIM merely act as a lending agency. There is no selectivity in regard to boatyards.
: Does the Minister agree that it would be wrong of BIM to refuse a grant and loan to an applican to have his boat built in a yard other than a recognised one or through BIM, provided the boat was up to proper specification?
: BIM must be satisfied with the type of boat being built and with the calibre of the applicant, including his financial standing. If those two criteria are met, BIM are not selective in regard to the boatyard. The fisherman is a free agent to make his own arrangements with the boatyard in Ireland and Bord Iascaigh Mhara then come in as bankers to make the assessment of both applicant and boat and type of fishing proposed.
: If I bring one specific case to the Minister's attention, will he ensure that these criteria he mentions will be observed by BIM?
: I should be very glad to do so, because I would be very disturbed if it were otherwise.
: Is the Minister aware that BIM has agents in Dublin for the purpose of foreign trawlers? Is it not strange that BIM do not act as agents themselves?
: BIM are in no way engaged in that sort of exercise. I should like the facts if——
: I will leave it to the Minister to look into that.
: I shall certainly look into it.
: When does the Minister hope to bring in the EEC grants scheme he has been talking about for the past six months?
: In about three weeks time I hope to get it through the Fisheries Council meeting.
: Single-handed.
: And unaided.
: The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.