asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if there is an over-capacity in the fishing boat-building industry; and if the IDA have been advised by his Department not to allocate any grants towards new or expanding boatyards.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Boat Building.
19.
The answer to both parts of the Deputy's question is "No".
If I were to provide for the Minister details of what inspired this question would he then take it up and investigate whether, unknown to him, the practice has taken place of advising against grants being provided for new boat-building yards of a private nature or the expansion of existing yards? I have information that is contrary to the Minister's information and this practice is to be deplored.
I will be very glad to receive such information.
Is the Minister aware that there are serious redundancies threatened in Killybegs and that men are now almost on notice? Is he also aware that two years ago there were 156 people working there and that this week there are 114? When he took up office in 1977, did the Minister not guarantee publicly in Killybegs that there would be no redundancies?
I agree that there is an overmanning problem in Killybegs. We must run our boatyards reasonably efficiently. There is no point in losing substantial moneys on them. Negotiations are taking place with the trade unions concerned on that aspect. At present there are five fishermen from Killybegs with Bord Iascaigh Mhara negotiating the purchase of five 150 ft. boats to go right out to the 200-mile limit to deal with new forms of fishing.
Are these steel boats?
They are. This is one of the problems of Killybegs in that the large timber boats they construct there are not wanted by the fisherman for any deep water trawling today. He wants a steel boat.
I support the Minister in his efforts to find work for these men but, when he says there are five people who are going to commission boats, is this a sign that there will be no redundancies and that his statement of 1977 still stands?
It is not in relation to that at all, because what the fisherman wants at present is a type of steel boat which can be manufactured at other boatyards. The boatyard in Killybegs is primarily geared to timber constructed boats. That is where the problem is at the moment.
Is the Minister aware that one fisherman who sought a quotation from Killybegs boatyard five months ago to build a 110 ft. boat has not yet received the quotation?
I would like to have details of that.
May I take it from what the Minister has said in answer to supplementary questions that the whole question of value for money out of the yards in question is being looked into? May I also take it that this question of overmanning is part and parcel of this exercise? Further, will the Minister take steps to ensure that our fishermen are not, due to the system we have for financing and otherwise, being compelled to buy their boats at an inflated price?
That is a separate question.
May I take it that the Minister will increase the capacity of Killybegs so that Killybegs can build the boats now in demand?
I have to take an overall view of this matter taking into consideration private boatyards, Bord Iascaigh Mhara boatyards and a number of boatyards that exist throughout the country.
Is the Minister saying that there will be no redundancies in Killybegs?
I am not saying anything.
(Interruptions.)