Vol. 422 No. 1
6 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine whether a drift net licence for the Boyne Estuary, originally allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Louth and now allocated to another person following an accident suffered by the person which disabled him from using it, can now be returned to him.
Under the Control of Fishing for Salmon Orders, 1980 and 1982 which govern the issue of salmon net licences, the assessment of applications and the issue of licences are matters for determination by each regional fisheries board concerned, in this case the eastern board and I have no function in the matter.
I have, however, had inquiries made in this case and I understand that because the number of applicants to the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board exceeded the number of licences available, and because the person in question did not use the licences allocated to him in the past three years, he was not considered a high enough priority for the allocation of a licence in 1992. All the licences which can be legally issued by the board for 1992 have been allocated and it is not possible for the board to issue further licences or to transfer a licence from one fisherman to another.
This person may, of course, apply for a licence for the 1993 season. Applications for 1993 licences must be received by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board on or before 30 November 1992.
