Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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How long has this been in operation? I got a briefing locally about this earlier in the year. The amount of funding is trivial to meet the needs and requirements involved, or to create any sustainability for people in coastal communities and people who are struggling with inshore fishing. Can any of that money go towards local co-operatives? It may buy an ice machine or something like that. Could the money go towards creating some kind of storage facility whereby people could keep certain fish until such time as they can get the maximum benefit from the market? In many coastal communities, people involved in fishing for lobster and crayfish can make €22 or €24 per kilo in the months of March, April or May, but then in July and August that will drop to €8 or €9 per kilo.

Has there been much interest in the take-up? It was stated in the presentation that a management committee is being set up involving all the stakeholders in the community and so on. Who selects this management committee? Is it determined by local people? Mr. Michael Keatinge stated that there was public and private support. Are the local authorities behind it?

I concur completely with what Deputy Ó Cuív has stated. The amount of money is so small that it will have no real effect on something that is so necessary.