I have to say that I am not aware of extreme anxiety on the part of protection staff in the regional fisheries boards in relation to their jobs, nor am I aware of any reason that should cause them to have such anxiety.
The numbers employed in 1985 and 1991 were 380 and 288 respectively. The Deputy should understand, however, that a total of 36 people left the employment of the various boards in the period in question under various schemes for early retirement/voluntary redundancy and their posts were not, therefore, eligible to be filled.
I know that, as is the case in many State organisations in recent years, the combination of falling numbers and restrictions on budgets generally would not be regarded by all staff as the best environment for maintaining the high level of commitment and service shown by fishery board staff in the past. I am, however, heartened by the positive attitude and dedication displayed by the boards' staff in undertaking their, at times, dangerous but necessary work in protecting and developing the inland fisheries resource.
