asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state why he has increased the fishery rate by 5/- in the pound in excess of the rate struck for the current year by the Kerry Board of Conservators and contrary to the wishes of the members of the board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Rate.
The estimates submitted to me in respect of the fishery year ending on 30th September next by the Kerry Board of Conservators showed an excess of expenditure over receipts amounting to almost £1,200. The board was unwilling to adopt a suggestion made by me that the fishery rate be increased by 5/- in order to meet to some extent the anticipated deficit and as a State grant to the full amount of the deficit could not be provided it was necessary for me in order to maintain the solvency of the board to increase the rate by 5/-.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that last year the board increased the fishery rate by 2/- in the £? Is he further aware that the increase now of 5/- in the £ may have the effect of putting some of these fisheries out of business. Furthermore, does he realise that the board is very dissatisfied that the Parliamentary Secretary increased this rate without any consultation withthe board? Will he now agree to send down one of his officials to consult with the members of the board at their next meeting? In that case perhaps everybody would be satisfied.
I am aware that the board did increase the rate. It is not true to say that this is an arbitrary decision on the part of the Minister for Agriculture, acting through me, but is in fact due to the increase in the expenditure by the Board itself, for which they did not make adequate provision. They simply increased their expenditure, deducted the amount of their estimated income from the total, and put down the difference as a State grant without any previous consultation with the Fisheries Branch. I would point out to Deputy Palmer that the consultation to which he refers did, in fact, take place when an official of the branch was present for a meeting of the board, and discussed fully the implications of their estimate.