asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he has any proposals to halt the rapid deterioration of the fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Fleet.
60.
I do not accept that there is, or has been, a rapid deterioration in the fishing fleet. There is, in fact, a continuing programme of fleet modernisation being carried on with the aid of BIM and FEOGA assistance.
Furthermore, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara are, at my request currenly reviewing their marine credit plan with a view to making the best use of the available State funds for (i) modernisation of the fleet, (ii) the introduction of a certain number of new vessels in each category and (iii) obtaining the maximum benefit from the proposed new EC structures regulation.
The Minister will be aware that we need considerable investment to modernise the fleet and to bring in new vessels. Can the Minister indicate if there will be a greater uptake in demand for new vessels and modernisation under the new structures policy than under the last one because the amount of aid got from the Community under the last programme was the second lowest of any member state? A very small allocation was obtained to replace and modernise the fleet compared with what was received by other member states.
The Deputy is right in seeing a greater hope for expansion of the fleet under the new structures document which has lessened in some cases the amount of local contribution and increased the amount of the FEOGA grants. In that respect there could be a greater takeup. In other respects, along with modernising the fleet the limits imposed by the EC have been improved as a result of our discussions of 3 December. If the Deputy has not already seen the full details of the result of the structures discussions he will be reasonably happy with the outcome with regard to our fishing industry.
Nobody could be happy with the provision which we got from the last policy structures document and proposals. The Minister will be fully aware that the aid which we received is very low and that nothing has been done in the past four years to modernise the fleet or to get new vessels. Can the Minister give some indication that we will do better now, having regard to the complications in the new structures policy, than we did over the past three or four years? Will there be a new Government plan to help to modernise the fleet?
A number of measures are being taken in the Department. The fleet will be modernised with State funds. I regard that as a priority. With more money from FEOGA this should now be possible. The big problem is to provide the amount of money which we need to provide to meet our share of the FEOGA grant available. The changes we have achieved in the structures programme will mean that our contribution may be somewhat smaller for a given amount of work that can be done in the future.
A final question.
The Minister must be aware that it is really the lack of State investment which is hampering the development of the fleet. The FEOGA money cannot be claimed because the State is not providing its contribution. Under the new regulations it will be more difficult because the State will now have to pay 10 per cent rather than 5 per cent. How can the Minister square that, having regard to the fact that we have done so badly up to now?
The Deputy did not listen to what I said in the original reply. I am to review the marine credit plan so as to make the best available use of the State funds.
Is the Minister providing the necessary funding, that is the question?
That can be done too. We are in the course of Estimates discussions but the better use of the money available is something which must be investigated at the moment.