asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he is now in a position to state what steps he intends to take in order to develop and extend the fisheries at Arran Islands, and whether in view of the near approach of the mackerel season he is in a position to hold out any hope that increased and improved facilities will be afforded in connection with the despatch and disposal of fish.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARRAN ISLAND FISHERIES.
The development of the fishing industry of the Arran Islands is receiving close attention. The present depressed condition of these fisheries is due to the universal causes which have their origin in the great upheavals, consequent on the European war. Remote islands like Arran have suffered in a special manner, as owing to the increase in steamer and railway freights the return to the fishermen for their catches hardly yields a living wage, and the owners of the boats purchased from the State have, in consequence, been unable to meet their instalments during the past three years.
Efforts are at present being made to develop markets in our inland towns for the catches of our fishermen, and it is hoped that our activities in this direction will help to provide an improved outlet for the catches.
The principal problem affecting the Arran fresh fisheries development is transit, both as regards the service and the freight charges; for while the market value of fish in the British markets to-day is somewhat below the values in pre-war years, the cost of transit is more than 50 per cent. greater, while the service is greatly inferior to the service available before 1914.
The Ministry subsidises the Galway-Arran steamer service at a heavy yearly cost. It may be possible that a scheme for a cheaper and better sea service to the Islands may be evolved in the comparatively near future, but I cannot hold out any hope that such a scheme will be in working order for the coming spring fishing. The railway service from Galway has been considerably improved of late, and the Midland Railway Company has been as accommodating as possible under the difficult conditions under which it has been working for some years past.