Vol. 524 No. 2
145 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the 3,000 tons allocated some years ago for inshore vessels has been fully corrected and allocated; and if a further package for small inshore vessels is proposed. [22046/00]
A special scheme was introduced some years ago, with EU approval, to regularise the position of small fishing vessels which, although part of the fishing fleet, had not been formally licensed or registered. The scheme, which permits the addition of capacity not exceeding 5,473 gross tonnes and 28,447 kilowatts to the overall capacity of the Irish fishing fleet, applies to small vessels which were demonstrably part of the fleet prior to 1989.
The closing date for receipt of applications under the scheme was 17 February 1995. Licences have been issued to the majority of applicants and remaining cases are being processed to finality by my Department, as and when all necessary documentation and information is submitted by the applicants concerned.
