Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 4

Written Answers. - Fisheries Training.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

53 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for the Marine his views on whether the training and educational facilities available to young people interested in a fishing career compare favourably with the opportunities afforded to those pursuing other careers.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

By way of background, I will outline the training and educational facilities available in the fishing sector. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, is the main agency undertaking State-funded fisheries and aquaculture training of a vocational nature. BIM also provides training in health, hygiene and quality in the fisheries area. Training is carried out at the National Fisheries Training Centre at Greencastle, County Donegal and at fishery ports around the coast through the use of a mobile training unit.

The objective of BIM's training programme is to provide training to ensure the efficiency, safety, quality and business skills necessary to support the maintenance and expansion of employment in fishing. BIM's training programmes, many of which prepare participants for professional examinations, are of a very high quality. Most of the training programme participants either obtain gainful employment in the fisheries area, or return to better employment in the area, on completion of training.

I should also point out to the Deputy that, under the new sectoral plan for fisheries, fishing training will become part of a fully-integrated development programme for the fisheries sector, with the enhanced commitment and suppert for the training programme that this will give. This is a very important development which will allow us to take a long term review of all of the aspects of the industry and to develop each individual aspect as a part of the whole industry.

BIM is not, however, the only agency involved in training in the fisheries sector. There are, in addition, in excess of 35 educational establishments around the country which also provide training and research in the fisheries area. I can, if it would be of assistance, arrange to make available a list of these institutions to the Deputy.

I think the Deputy will agree that the training and educational facilities available to those interested in a fishing career are very substantial and appear to meet the needs of all of those interested in such a career. A full assessment of the training requirements for the fishing sector will be undertaken as part of the present review of BIM.