asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the progress achieved in having fishing boats built or repaired in Irish shipyards.
Written Answers. - Fishing Boats.
430.
Cavan-Monaghan): An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, through their marine credit plan, assist fishermen in the financing of the purchase of new fishing boats and the repair and modernisation of existing boats. It has always been the practice that the choice of boatbuilder is a matter for the fisherman concerned. The board, however, encourage, as far as possible, the use of Irish boatyards for fishing vessel construction and repair.
In the past four years approximately 95 per cent of new vessels financed with assistance from BIM were built in Irish yards. Only in exceptional circumstances are vessel improvements or repairs carried out in foreign yards.