Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:33 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that adequate steps are being taken to ensure the safety of our fishermen. [12283/98]
Written Answers. - Marine Safety.
As Minister with responsibility for safety of life at sea, I am committed to improving the safety of our fishermen. To that end, I propose to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group. This is one of the key objectives in the Government's "Action Programme for the Millennium". Considerable progress has already been made in this regard, most notably in the areas of safety training, on-shore marine radio communications, fleet development and safety awareness.
My Department has been working closely with BIM concerning the establishment of new and more accessible training facilities. BIM has, in this regard, launched two mobile coastal training units which are delivering vital instruction in the safe operation of fishing vessels directly to fishermen at strategic locations around the coast. In addition, a new fisheries training facility is under construction at Castletownbere to service the south coast. The new centre is scheduled for completion later this year. These additional training resources strengthen BIM's overall programme to significantly improve the safety competence of fishing vessel crews. The principal objective of BIM's Coastal Training Programme is to generate a health and safety culture within the small scale fishing sector in particular.
Funding under the EU' s Small Scale Coastal Fisheries Programme has been secured towards a new training initiative, which has just commenced, aimed at the spouses and families of small scale coastal fishermen. It is hoped that the relatives of fishermen can exert a positive influence in the promotion of good safety practices on board small fishing vessels. This pilot initiative, which will be run by BIM in co-operation with Údarás na Gaeltachta, Comharcumann Inis Meain Teo and Meitheal Forbatha na Gaeltachta, will target 12 venues over the course of 18 months.
The review group identified the absence of mandatory social insurance cover for fishermen as the cause of many trained deckhands leaving the fishing fleet. This situation has since been addressed and share fishermen now qualify for full PRSI cover.
The report of the review group indicated that in the absence of incentives for the renewal of the fleet there would be little improvement in the age structure and safety status of the fleet. I am committed to bringing about an improvement in this regard. I am at present finalising a programme to support renewal of the whitefish fleet in order to maximise income and employment in coastal regions. The programme is subject to EU Commission approval and negotiations with the Commission are well advanced. The programme involves a grant aid support scheme and tax incentives for the whitefish fleet. The tax incentives are provided for in the 1998 Finance Act. The grant aid element of the programme will be met from within the current allocations of Structural Funds for the fishing fleet. The programme is designed to promote investment in the whitefish fleet with the introduction of a number of new and modern second-hand vessels into the fleet. In addition, a targeted modernisation scheme and support for essential safety equipment for vessels will modernise the vessels in the fleet and contribute to improved safety.
There have also been significant developments in the area of on-shore marine radio communications. The Department has installed new medium frequency transmitters at Belmullet and Rosslare which will enhance radio coverage and improve emergency response to fishing vessels operating off the north west coast and in the Irish Sea. Furthermore, the Department is currently evaluating tenders received for VHF digital selective calling equipment which it is proposed to install at Irish marine emergency service coast radio stations, thereby significantly upgrading our radio communications network.
I intend to introduce, as quickly as possible, comprehensive safety regulations which will cover fishing vessel construction and equipment, the carriage of specified radio equipment and increased training and manning requirements. The Department is currently putting in place the necessary technical and administrative resources to enable the drafting of this considerable volume of safety legislation. Three additional marine surveyors have been appointed in this regard and the recruitment of an additional marine radio surveyor is under way. As well as providing vital technical input in the drafting of the safety regulations, the surveyors will also be involved in a strict enforcement regime which will include regular structural surveys and equipment inspections for fishing vessels.
It is of course vitally important that fishermen recognise that they have a responsibility for their own safety. This responsibility involves adherence to basic safety practices and procedures, including equipment maintenance. In recognition of the clear need to substantially increase safety awareness among fishermen, the Department's Marine Safety Working Group has published practical, user-friendly information booklets dealing with fishing vessel machinery failure and man overboard procedures for fishing vessels and it is proposed to publish a further brochure, on emergency procedures for fishing vessels, in the near future. The promulgation of these safety booklets to fishermen will help to foster an ethos of safety consciousness. I am satisfied that the Department is, for its part, taking such steps at such pace as resources will allow to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, the safety of our fishermen.