Vol. 468 No. 1
238 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent Lassen report which states that Ireland has 132 offshore multipurpose vessels greater than 20 metres with an average age of 20 years; and if he will confirm the veracity or otherwise of this statement in view of recent media reports that have stated that the average age of this group of vessels was more than 30 years. [14719/96]
At present, there are 1,187 vessels in the polyvalent sector of the Irish fishing fleet. The average age of vessels in this sector, based on current sea fishing boat registry data, is 31 years.
There are 124 vessels over 20 metres within the polyvalent sector. The average age of this subcategory of vessels, based on current sea fishing boat registry data, is just over 19 years.
The figures quoted in the Lassen report are in line therefore with the current profile of the polyvalent fleet.
