Vol. 526 No. 5
10 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the safety equipment which will be grant aided under the programme introduced by Bord lascaigh Mhara to improve sea angling vessel safety; if a maximum level of grant aid applies; the total cost of the scheme in 200; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26943/00]
The sea-angling safety equipment grant scheme commenced in 1999. Grants under the scheme were approved in three tranches – July and December 1999, and June 2000 – and investment to date under the scheme amounts to more than £448,000.
Under the grant scheme, grants of 50% are provided for the purchase of new safety equipment from an approved list of equipment. The list includes a wide range of life-saving, fire-fighting, navigational and communications equipment. I will be happy to arrange for the Deputy to get a copy of the full list. The 50% grant allocation is subject to a maximum eligible cost for each item on the approved list. Some £200,000 has been provided in my Department's Vote for 2001 in respect of the scheme.
Will the Minister indicate the maximum level of grant based on the list system? In monetary terms, what does it actually amount to? Will the Minister also comment on the fact that the 50% that small operators must pay from their own resources is causing a huge problem for many of them. We all know that safety is of paramount importance, but is the Minister aware that it is exceedingly difficult for some smaller operators to match the 50% funding?
I have not received too many complaints about the question of matching funds. I suppose no matter how much money one gives out in grants some people will always feel they should receive more. That certainly has not been a major issue in the industry. There are maximum eligible costs for each piece of equipment on the list. As far as I am aware, however – and I may have to confirm this – there is no upper grant limit, although it is subject to 50% of the total cost.
The Minister may not have this information with him but, from the uptake of applications, what is the scheme likely to cost in 2001?
A sum of £200,000 has been provided in the Vote for my Department for 2001. I am at all times prepared to be flexible. If there are genuine applications and safety requirements, it is my intention that money should not stand in the way.
