Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his answer and would appreciate a hard copy because there is great confusion over this issue in the community concerned.

The Minister will be very aware of the deep dissatisfaction among a relatively small number of salmon drift net fishermen at the compensation package put together for many of the people concerned. Some people were handsomely compensated but many others were not, having relied on an income derived from catching salmon using drift nets. That process is over, which I accept, but it has taken many months to approach the conclusion of this matter and it has still not been reached in terms of distributing the remaining €5 million of the community fund. I am concerned, in particular, about fishermen who come from areas that do not have large fishing communities.

Many individuals, including people I know in Crosshaven, will not qualify for a significant portion of the €5 million because they do not come from a community where there are large numbers of drift net fishermen. Many of these individuals face genuine hardship and are anxious to find other sources of income and to retrain for other industries but need support to do so. Is that not the purpose of this fund?

Will the Minister consider the possibility of allocating some of the available moneys to individuals who may not come from large fishing communities but are facing the hardship and isolation of not being able to fish for salmon as they may have done season after season in the past. I do not question the validity of the decision to end drift net fishing. Rather, I question the fairness of the distribution of the €5 million set aside to encourage fishermen into other industries. People have contacted me and others to ask whether there is a fund to help them set up a business elsewhere or to move into another industry. Unfortunately, the way in which the funding is allocated means that is not possible.

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