I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that I have secured a 4 per cent increase in 1993 on the 1992 outturn of £7.835 million for inland fisheries and this at a time, as I think the Deputy will agree, when we are facing a very difficult budgetary situation.
Of the total allocation of £8.173 million for 1993 £6.906 million is being provided to the central and regional fisheries boards. While the demand for increased resources for all State services is ever present I am satisfied that the level of Exchequer funding available to the fisheries boards in 1993 together with own resources raised will be adequate to meet the present pay and non-pay commitments of the boards.
I am, however, conscious of the decline in staff numbers in the fisheries boards in recent years and the effect this will have on the boards' ability to carry out their functions of protection, conservation and development. Mindful of this, I have, since becoming Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine, been examining all possible avenues to have a number of priority posts filled. However, I have to point out that it would be wrong of me to raise expectations of a substantial increase in staff numbers for the fisheries boards in the present financial climate.
I would add that the Department is looking at ways of improving the protection service, including better co-operation with the Naval Service and between the fisheries boards to utilise in the most efficient and effective manner the present available resources.