Vol. 457 No. 1
50 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine the provision, if any, his Department is making for new entrants into the fishing industry, particularly young fishermen, with special regard to the need to provide additional tonnage for such people. [14986/95]
Under European Union fleet policy the capacity of member states' fishing fleets is constrained by decisions taken in the context of the multiannual guidance programmes for the EU fishing fleet (MAGP's) which in Ireland's case requires a reduction of 4,000 tonnes by the end of 1996.
Against this background, our sea-fishing boat licensing policy has to be geared to control entry to the fleet. Licences can only be approved on the basis of withdrawal of capacity from the Sea Fishing Boat Register at least equal to the capacity of proposed new boats.
The overall capacity constraint, which is designed to bring fishing activity into better balance with available resources, does not however preclude development and modernisation of the sector as is evidenced in the success in recent years of the Irish pelagic fleet.
Many young people are still entering the industry. BIM have comprehensive training programmes for new entrants to the industry and for upgrading the skills of those already in the industry. Training is carried out at the national training centre in Greencastle and at other key fishing locations around the country.
The investment programmes for modernisation of the existing fleet and the current decommissioning scheme are geared to improving the structure and age profile of the fleet within overall capacity constraints. Within that framework there are continuing opportunities for young fishermen and we will continue to encourage and facilitate those opportunities.
