Vol. 412 No. 2
47 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any plans to increase the number of fishery officers available to the regional fishery boards for fishery patrolling at sea; and if he has any plans to increase the number of boathouses available to the regional boards.
I would refer the Deputy to the answer I gave the House on Thursday, 16 May on the subject of the staffing of the fishery boards.
I am fully aware of the necessity to ensure that the regional fisheries boards are adequately staffed to enable them to fulfil their functions to protect, conserve and develop the important resource that is inland fisheries.
In my reply of 16 May 1991 I pointed out that the staffing levels of all the fishery boards have fallen significantly in recent years due to general restrictions on recruitment.
I have also previously stated, that it would, in present financial circumstances, be totally unrealistic to expect that there would be any general relaxation of these restrictions or any general increase in the staffing of the fishery boards.
I would add that I am actively studying an assessment of the board's staffing which I instructed my Department to carry out with a view to filling a number of priority posts.
I am not aware of any problem with regard to the number of boathouses available to the regional boards and I am satisfied that the regional boards possess adequate and secure storage.
