Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2021
61. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of salmon drift netting licences that were not bought out under the compulsory buy out scheme introduced in 2007; the details of same by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26851/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommercial Salmon Fishing licences are public licences which must be taken out annually, are entirely permissive in nature and confer no fishing rights on the licensee. In line with the Government decision in 2006 to manage salmon fisheries strictly in line with scientific advice, the Government established a €25m Hardship Scheme for licence holders. The concept of buyout or compensation does not arise.
Records from the administration of the Scheme include those persons who made an application but not persons who did not apply. The details sought by the Deputy in terms of the specific numbers of people who did not apply are therefore not available.
However, on an indicative basis, I am advised that at the time the scheme was opened to application, there were 875 drift net licence holders and the scheme records show that 749 drift net salmon fishermen availed of the hardship payment. This would indicate that some 126 drift net licence holders, for a variety of reasons, did not avail of the hardship scheme.
