Michael Smith
Ceist:49 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals, if any, he has for the introduction of an early retirement scheme for fishermen; and if he will seek EU funding for this scheme. [3948/95]
Written Answers. - Early Retirement Scheme.
There is at the moment no provision within the EU fisheries framework for an early retirement scheme for fishermen.
However, I am in favour of and will press for the introduction of such a provision at Community level. The council and the commission have expressed a willingness to examine the possibility of introducing various measures including a preretirement scheme in the context of restructuring the Community fleet.
In a recent discussion document the Commission estimated that a fisherman leaving his trade five to ten years before legal retirement age would cost the public purse between IR£40,000 and IR£80,000 in retirement benefits. The commission now proposes to seek further information from member states in order to estimate the probable total cost of such a scheme throughout the EU.
While a scheme would be desirable, at present no EU financial provision exists from which such a scheme could be funded. This means that any scheme would have to be funded from existing FIFG allocations which would, of course, mean less funding for other important areas such as the fleet, fish processing and harbours.
I will, nevertheless, continue to encourage the commission to explore the possibility of funding being provided from other sources such as the Social Fund.