asked the Minister for the Marine his response to the Irish applications under the April 1988 tranche of the FEOGA funds for vessel construction and modernisation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Vessel Construction and Modernisation.
36.
On a point of order, before the Minister answers, my original question was directed towards aquaculture as well as vessel construction and FEOGA modernisation grants. You ruled me out, a Cheann Comhairle, as regards aquaculture as you said that that matter had been answered previously. You said in your reply that Question No. 218——
Please, Deputy Doyle, I trust that you are not challenging my ruling on that.
No, I am not. However, you told me that Question No. 218 on 3 May was replied to. There was no Question No. 218 on 3 May. The questions only went to No. 212 or 213. I am confused as to why my whole question was not answered.
If the Deputy was confused, she ought to have consulted my office.
I would love to have done so, but——
We would have clarified the matter. The Deputy might have given me notice and I would have clarified matters for her.
I did not get notice until today at lunchtime. It took a week to get an answer.
This is disorderly.
Perhaps we could give the information.
I know the answers.
Let us deal with questions in an orderly fashion.
The reply that I received does not make sense.
Please, Deputy, this is Question Time. If the Deputy had a grievance against my office, she ought to have done me the courtesy of communicating with me in the proper way.
But I did not get my notice in time.
This is not the place to do it.
The question was submitted a week ago.
I am determined to ensure that the Irish aquaculture industry and individual projects within it are presented in the best light when submitted for FEOGA grant aid. I have undertaken a number of initiatives to this end. I advised the House at the outset that I was disappointed with the level of grant aid approved for Irish aquaculture projects in the 1987 tranche and have conveyed my disappointment informally to the Commissioner on several occasions. Together with the Minister, I also raised the matter at the Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting on 14 and 15 December last year. In his response, the Commissioner referred to the five year duration of the present structures regulation and suggested that funding would be over this period. In the December 1987 tranche, Ireland secured 6 per cent of the total FEOGA aid available. This figure has risen to 10 per cent in the most recent April tranche of 1988. I shall, nevertheless, continue to press for an increased level of funding.
On specifics, my Department have had detailed discussions with the European Commission in relation to the criteria and methods used in Brussels to assess projects for grant aid. On foot of that exercise, my Department will be drawing up detailed guidelines to assist in the presentation of projects. In addition, my Department, together with BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta, will ensure that proper technical and economic evaluations of projects in Ireland are submitted to Brussels. I am convinced that aquaculture is a candidate which sits well with the European commitment to target peripheral regions and it has been indicated that our efforts to secure adequate funding will not be spared. In relation to the April tranche, there was no aid for construction of new vessels and this was right throughout the Community. For boat modernisation we received £293,280. We submitted 21 applications and 12 were grant-aided. In relation to aquaculture, the total which we received was £994,761. A total of £1,288,041——
A disgracefully low figure.
It would be wrong to compare those figures with the 1987 figures because the 1987 figures, as the Deputy will be aware, included only one tranche and, of course, we shall have two in 1988. It is hoped that the total of the April and October tranches will far exceed the 1987 tranche. That is not to say that we in the Department are happy. We shall continue to pursue the matter and to seek a reasonable percentage. There was an increase from 6 per cent to 10 per cent, but we are not happy with that and will continue, if we have an opportunity at the meeting which has been deferred until 23 June, to impress upon the Presidency, the Commission and the officials our dissatisfaction with the income from FEOGA.
Has the Minister high expectations for the October tranche?
I am one who has always been optimistic and has always been ambitious.
Perhaps the Minister should have the Commissioner over again this summer. He needs to come back to see the problems again.
The Minister could give him a rod licence.
I am sure that Deputy Doyle is ambitious, also.
Order, please.