asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the source from which finance was provided to facilitate the purchase of the three State trawlers at an approximate cost of £88,000, (b) the amount of interest repayable in respect of the first ten months, (c) the estimated capital depreciation and the amount of capital repaid during that period; further, if he will state whether such items were included in the sum exceeding £20,000 declared to have been the total operating expenses of these trawlers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of State Trawlers.
The provision of boats and gear is now financed by repayable advances from the Central Fund. The figure of cost mentioned by the Deputy is not correct. These advances are repayable on an annuity basis over a period of 20 years and it is therefore not possible to give the information regarding interest and capital repayment asked for. It is not possible to give a precise figure for depreciation for the period mentioned.