John Browne
Question:9 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has to introduce a scheme of incentives to allow fishermen to invest in better quality fishing boats and equipment. [23832/96]
Priority Questions. - Investment in Fishing Boats and Equipment.
The Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-99 provides funding for the renewal and modernisation of the fishing fleet, with more than £11 million of EU and Exchequer aid available to support total investment of some £31 million in the fleet over the period. To date 131 vessel modernisation projects have been approved for grant aid of more than £4 million under the programme.
The investment support strategy under the programme is designed to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of the fleet while meeting mandatory EU fleet targets. The good take-up to date of available funding is contributing to those objectives. There has also been significant private investment in the Irish pelagic fleet in recent years which is now one of the most modern in the world. The scope for expansion of the fishing fleet will continue to be influenced by existing constraints and challenges in terms of fishing opportunities for quota and non-quota species, market factors and economic considerations.
I am currently giving detailed consideration to the future direction of fleet policy. A consultancy study has been commissioned to analyse, from all perspectives, the relative socio-economic and commercial merits of the introduction of new vessels into the whitefish fleet. The outcome of this study will inform an assessment of future directions for fleet policy having regard to all relevant factors including developments at EU level.
(Wexford): Is the Minister aware that only 6 per cent of the registered fishing fleet is less than ten years old? There is a need to bring this into line with our EU counterparts where approximately 15 per cent of vessels are less than ten years old. Many fishermen have told me they do not qualify for grant aid under the refurbishment scheme because of the age of their boats. Will the Minister make the scheme more flexible? Does he intend to introduce a new scheme to allow for the purchase of second-hand boats of five years or less or to substantially increase the grant aid for the purchase of new boats? Many fishermen do not have the necessary resources to purchase new boats and they need substantially increased grant aid. Does the Minister intend to move in that direction through the EU?
I have commissioned a consultancy study to analyse from all perspectives, the relative socio-economic and commercial merits of the introduction of new vessels into the white fish fleet. This study is near completion and should be available in January. I recently met the Irish Fishermen's Federation to discuss the possibility of introducing a pilot project. I gave a commitment to consider such a project and I am doing so at present.
On the question of grants for the refurbishment of old vessels, this is dealt with by BIM. If a boat is beyond repair and should not be in the fleet then grant aid will not be of any assistance. It would be unwise to allocate scarce funding for the refurbishment of such boats.
On the question of the Operational Programme for Fisheries, unfortunately the people who made the decisions decided to allocate £11 million only for modernisation and new purchases. The sum of £11 million will not go very far in this respect and in the mid-term review I will seek additional funds which I am convinced can be used wisely, particularly in reducing the number of boats over ten years old and more. This is the area on which we must concentrate and I will do everything possible to provide assistance in this regard.