Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 5

Written Answers. - Training of Fishermen.

Mary Coughlan

Ceist:

48 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will introduce a proper training scheme for young fishermen which will take into account the different logistics that fishermen have to operate under, such as weather conditions, fish movements and other uncontrollable factors that affect fishermen's availability for such courses. [3951/95]

Minister for Marine (Mr. Coveney)

There is a comprehensive training course already in existence catering for the skills requirements of practising young fishermen working towards command of vessels and of new entrants who are typically secondary school leavers.

The courses are conducted by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) the State Agency responsible for the development of the sea fishing industry, at fishery locations around the coast and at the National Fishery Training Centre, Greencastle. The coastal based programmes in particular are provided specifically to accommodate part-time evening and/or weekend attendance by participants. These very flexible scheduling arrangements enable working fishermen to avail of training up to certificate of competency level during periods of bad weather and without loss of earnings.However, young fishermen find the residential in-centre courses the most pragmatic way of coping with the study demands associated with certificate training.