Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 5

Written Answers. - Emergency Aid Scheme for Fishermen.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

29 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the widespread dissatisfaction among individual crew members with the administration of the emergency aid scheme for fishermen which confines payments to social welfare entitlement levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4002/95]

Neil T.C. Blaney

Question:

43 Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which the emergency aid scheme, Crew Share, was allocated; the number of recipients; the amounts paid; the number of applicants who were refused; the total amount paid out; and if he intends to distribute any moneys not yet allocated. [1033/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Coveney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 43 together.

As Deputies will be aware, an emergency aid scheme was introduced last April principally to compensate fishermen and boatowners for loss of earnings arising from prolonged bad weather during the previous winter. The scheme covered claims in respect of a 20 week period from November 1993 to March 1994.

A key objective of the scheme was to ensure that crew members who had suffered genuine hardship and who were not eligible for payments under social welfare schemes would be compensated for loss of earnings during the winter period. Payments to crew members were based broadly on what would have been the appropriate rate of support available under the social welfare unemployment schemes. These took account of such matters as family dependants, income from fishing and from other sources, and any social welfare payments received. The maximum payment that an individual crew member could receive was equivalent to what would have been his full entitlement under the social welfare system.

The total number of applications received from crew members under the scheme was 715, of which 187 were deemed ineligible for payment. To date a total of £495,000 has been paid in respect of 513 applications. A further £27,000 is expected to be paid to the remaining 15 applicants when additional information required to finalise their claims has been received.

I would stress that at the time of the announcement of the scheme it was signalled that payments to crew members were intended to bring incomes up to the level of social welfare unemployment benefits. In the administration of the scheme and in the consideration of appeals from crew members, the scheme's criteria were interpreted as flexibily as possible to ensure maximum payments within the parameters set down. I am satisfied, therefore, that the maximum possible level of aid has been paid to crew members under the scheme as approved.