Vol. 558 No. 1
303 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason nine employees of the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board had their contracts terminated by a person (details supplied) at a meeting held on 12 November 2002; and if the necessary funds will be made available to ensure that these jobs can be secured. [23356/02]
Under the Fisheries Acts, responsibility for the overall administration of human resources issues, including terms and conditions of employment of fisheries board contract staff, is a matter for the Central Fisheries Board and, in this instance, the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board. I have been advised by the chief executive officer of that board that no temporary contracts were terminated in November, 2002.
The Abridged Estimates Volume for 2003, published earlier this month, includes provision in my Department's Vote for €16.321 million for current and €0.762 million for capital expenditure for inland fisheries in 2003. The estimate includes provision for all current and capital payments to the central and regional fisheries boards in 2003. I have now asked the fisheries boards to prepare a profile of expenditure which will ensure adherence to the 2003 allocation. The specific allocation of funding to the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board will be determined in the context of this profile.
The employment of contract staff, or the terms of any such employment, in 2003 will be a matter for the board to determine when deciding their staffing complement for next year in the context of available funding.
