Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
708 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concern being expressed by low income fishermen in relation to the new inshore fishing scheme which will cause major financial hardship to boats under 20 ft.; if he will consider providing some grant aid to assist these fishermen who feel that the costs involved will be prohibitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22520/04]
View answerThe EU Common Fisheries Policy review, which was adopted by the Fisheries Council in the form of a framework regulation in December 2002, sets out new provisions in respect of State financial aid towards vessels which fish on a commercial basis. These rules apply to all fishing vessels engaged in commercial fishing, including small vessels under 20 feet. The rules provide that a member state wishing to provide grant aid towards vessel renewal or modernisation involving increases in capacity in terms of tonnage or power or increased effectiveness of fishing gear in the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004 would have to deliver a 3% reduction in the capacity limits for its overall national fleet. Such aid is completely precluded from 1 January 2005.
The 3% penalty imposed for the continuation of grant aid to 31 December 2004 would involve, for the Irish fleet, the permanent removal of 2496 GTs and 6,478 KWs. The level of the reduction that would be required is very substantial. In these circumstances, it was decided that the State would not enter into any grant aid in relation to fleet renewal and modernisation after 1 January 2003. This policy is regarded as a cornerstone of the reform of the CFP by the Commission and it has not proposed any change in this policy in the proposals for aid for the fisheries sector for the period 2007-2013, which were published in July 2004.
EU fisheries policy does provide for the grant aiding of fishing vessels for works that do not concern capacity in terms of tonnage or of power. A grant aid scheme to support the purchase of safety equipment for fishing vessels including vessels which have been granted a fishing boat licence offer under the special scheme for the licensing of small fishing boats which have a record of active commercial pot fishing, is being administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. This grant scheme covers essential equipment including lifesaving, fire fighting, navigation and occupational safety. Details of the grant scheme is available from BIM and can be downloaded together with application forms from the BIM website at www.bim.ie. I have asked BIM to work closely with the vessel owners concerned in order to ensure that they can avail fully of the scheme.
