Mr. Aidan Scallan:

I am from the South Wexford Lobster Co Op and we are putting forward a submission for the inshore fishing sector arising out of the loss of earnings and loss of fishing gear during the severe weather conditions this winter. Our members - likewise, our fishermen - have not earned any money since last November with the loss of fishing gear and the loss of income. Most of our members have families to feed, mortgages to pay and boat repayments to be met along with the upkeep and maintenance of our boats. We do not qualify for social welfare due to our self-employed status.

Many of our members are unable to avail of the scheme offered by the Minister because we cannot afford to put 100% of the money up-front, and claiming back 40% from the Department is not sufficient for us. We need 100% capital up-front to allow us purchase the gear. Many of our members do not have the money to put up-front.

We are looking for assistance to get back to work because our fishing activity generates work and income for approximately 150 to 200 families in our area. With our boats tied up, there is a loss of revenue to the State. Some 80% of our catch is supplied to local processors who employ approximately 100 staff and depend on our product. We are a small community whose biggest employer is the fishing industry.

Currently, most of our members are living on credit with no income, with assistance from family and friends. With no money coming in and no means to start generating an income, bills are going unpaid. We are up to our eyes in debt to the banks. Some of our members are in a desperate situation. Without assistance our fishermen will go out of business and onto the dole queues, which is neither good for the State nor the fishermen.

South Wexford Lobster Co Op is in agreement with the Federation of Irish Fishermen, FIF, on calling on the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to help our fishermen who have suffered severe hardship as a result of last winter's storms. Precedence was set in the tax year 1994-95 when fishermen were given full financial assistance during severe winter weather for loss of earnings. That scheme was administered by BIM.

Currently, most of our vessels are tied up and due for renewal of the code of practice safety survey.

This is an added financial burden on our fishermen which they cannot afford. Many of the larger vessels have gone back to work, creating some income for their owners. However, the small inshore sector cannot start making an income due to lack of gear. For the small inshore pot fisheries to start making an income, we need 100% of purchase costs to buy new gear and to cover the loss of earnings from the end of November to the present. It makes sense to keep us in work, earning a living and not joining the dole queues.