Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 8

Written Answers. - Inland Fishing Industry.

John Bruton

Question:

22 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give a breakdown on the achievement of the targets for 1,000 extra jobs in the inland fishing industry in paragraph 23 section 5 of the Programme for National Recovery; the number employed in this sector in (1) 1987 and (2) at the latest date for which figures are available; and his views on whether job creation in this sector has lived up to the targets agreed for it between the Government and the social partners in 1987.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

No targets as such were set for job creation in the inland fishing industry. The potential for long term growth was, however, identified at 1,500 new jobs.

Direct estimates of the level of employment directly and indirectly generated on the basis of the inland fisheries resource are not produced on a regular basis. The Economic and Social Research Institute have estimated that in 1988 the level of employment generated was the equivalent of 1,900 full-time jobs.

There are no estimates available of the trend in employment in the sector since that date but, in view of the general expansion which has occurred in tourist-related activity, I expect that this sector has made a positive contribution to employment creation in recent years.