Vol. 455 No. 8
414 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be issued a ferry passenger licence for the summer season, in view of the fact that he has been approved for some time. [12733/95]
An application for a passenger boat licence in relation to the vessel in question was lodged with my Department in November 1994. The vessel concerned was surveyed and a licence issued on 21 of that month. The licence authorises the carriage on board of up to 12 passengers from Roonagh Pier to Clare Island in County Mayo and expires on 10 October 1996.
A further application to carry in excess of 12 passengers on board the same vessel was subsequently lodged with my Department on 23 March of this year. This requires the issue of a Class VI Passenger Vessel Certificate. The survey requirements relating to the design, construction standards, stability and survivability requirements for this class of certificate are more stringent than those in respect of smaller passenger boats and consequently requires the application of additional resources in terms of time and manpower.
I can confirm that the survey application in this case is being processed at present and will be expedited as speedily as possible.
