Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fishing Industry Jobs.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

20 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine the way in which he proposes to ensure that 4,400 more jobs will be created in the fishing industry by 1991 as envisaged in BIM's plan of the industry considering the EC restrictions on the increase in the size of our fishing fleet.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

The BIM Development Strategy contains a comprehensive set of programmes for the various sectors of the fishing industry designed to create approximately an additional 4,400 full and part-time jobs over a four year period. This employment, it is envisaged, will be generated in the different sectors of the industry as follows:

Aquaculture	2,140
Fishermen	800
Processing	1,040
Ancillary services	390
Total	4,370

The Government have approved these programmes and are providing the resources to ensure that the objectives of the strategy will be achieved.

As recognised in the strategy, the area with the greatest potential for employment creation is the fast growing aquaculture sector which is expected to account for close on 50 per cent of the targeted additional employment. It is estimated that since the launching of the strategy up to 500 additional jobs would have been created in this sector alone at the end of 1989. In addition, a substantial number of jobs are being generated in the other sectors of the industry. For example, in processing, due mainly to greater availability of raw materials from expanded aquaculture production and increased landings of non-quota fish species, it is estimated that about 350 jobs have been created in 1989. The corresponding statistics for the fishing and ancillary services sectors indicate the creation of an estimated 120 and 50 additional jobs respectively for the same period.

It is clear from the preliminary figures I have quoted that significant progress has already been made towards the achievement of the employment targets set out in the BIM Strategy and I am confident that the employment target for the period as a whole will be achieved.