Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2018
825. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason a person (details supplied) is ineligible for the eel hardship fund; his plans for redress for this class of eel fisherman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45032/18]
View answerA Support Fund of €3 million has been established by the Government to address the hardship experienced by commercial eel fishermen and women in the light of the closure of the commercial eel fishery for conservation reasons. The fund is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the E.S.B. in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007. In respect of former fishermen and women who were the holder of a licence or permit in the base year, payment will involve a tax free element for each of the 5 reckonable years for which the applicant was a licence or permit holder and a taxable element based on the average annual catch of the applicant during the reckonable years.
Based on the scheme criteria, the eligibility of the person referred to by the Deputy as having held a permit to fish for eels can be definitively established on receipt of an application and the submission of supporting documents.
The scheme is currently open for applications which must be received by 5.00pm 30 November 2018. An application form and detailed information on the scheme can be obtained from any IFI Office or by downloading the relevant documentation from the IFI website www.fisheriesireland.ie.
