asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the amount and write-off of principal on capital advances to BIM for the years 1977 and 1978, and if such write-off of Exchequer funds has been approved by him.
Written Answers. - BIM Finances.
258.
The amounts of capital advances written off were as follows: 1977, £115,000; 1978, £20,000. These write-offs were approved by me.
260.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he has approved the write-off of a sum of £1,462,717 by way of bad debts in respect of repayable advances made by the Exchequer to BIM as at 31 December 1976.
The figure of £1,462,717 is cumulative and refers to bad debts written off since the inception of the board's predecessor, the Irish Sea Fisheries Association, in 1932 to date. The annual amounts written off have been approved by successive Ministers.