Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will allocate the €5 million hardship fund which has been earmarked as a hardship and diversification fund for those affected by the salmon drift net fishing ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28998/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The report of the Independent Salmon Group recommended that a community support scheme be established to support the development of additional economic opportunities in communities affected by the closure of the drift net fishery. It recommended that the focus of this measure should primarily be those communities where drift net fishing had been a well established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacts on their economic and social fabric, for example, Gaeltacht areas and island communities formerly involved in drift net fishing.

In addition to the €25 million salmon hardship scheme, the Government subsequently provided for a fund amounting to €5 million that will be available for such a community support scheme. This scheme will be directed at the development of additional economic opportunities for former crew in the salmon fishery and employees in the processing and ancillary sectors in the communities.

The scheme is to be administered by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I am advised that details of the scheme are being finalised with a view to allocating the available funds to those affected fishery districts, proportionate to the impact of the cessation of the mixed stock fishery. Consultations with the Leader companies, conducted through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will inform the most effective distribution of funds.

In this regard, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs invited Leader companies to prepare submissions, the last of which was received on Friday, 9 November to ensure that resources are directed to the most affected areas. My officials met their counterparts from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on Tuesday, 13 November to review the submissions. As soon as this exercise is completed, details of the scheme will be finalised and published through the Leader companies.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I recognise this is a sensitive issue. There are cultural and economic factors to consider in areas where there may not be many economic opportunities. This sensitivity is one of the reasons it is taking time to devise the system of allocation. The Leader companies, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and my Department are engaged in a complex and difficult process to devise a system that meets some of the objectives set out by Deputy Coveney. I agree that smaller communities that may not be the obvious targets should not be forgotten. At the same time, we must have a coherent and effective programme.

The decision to end drift net fishing was correct. It will be beneficial for rural areas along the seaboard in the long term.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I do not dispute that.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I accept that but I wish to make this point. For the future we must protect our natural resources, including the stocks of wild salmon. I hope this brave decision will be seen to bring returns when we can begin to reopen rivers for both anglers and commercial fishermen operating on a draft net basis, thus providing employment opportunities in hotels, commercial fisheries, smokeries and so on for what would be a unique product in a world where salmon is increasingly less available.

Another aspect of the complexity of this issue is that those who were affected most by the end of drift net fishing, by reference to the intensity of their fishing activities, are the ones who were compensated disproportionately well. Anyone who was fishing extensively in the previous five years and had the tag records to show that received a much higher payment than those who may have held a licence but did not undertake an extensive amount of fishing.

This causes difficulty in terms of structuring the support scheme. It is a question of whether we should target those who were intensively engaged in the industry or those who were less involved but, because of this, received less compensation. This is one of the complexities that the departmental officials will have to address in conjunction with the Leader companies.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The problem in this instance is that one is dealing with a community infrastructure, through the Leader organisations, for example. The nature of drift net fishing, however, is that it involved individuals who are located right along the coast. It is not similar to other fishing sectors where there are large centres, such as Killybegs, Castletownbere and Dingle. Drift net fishermen were based around the coastline in an isolated way, in small ports and using small boats. My concern is that individuals who are willing to leave the fishing industry and move into other industries should also be able to access this fund to obtain the support they require. That does not seem to be possible under the current proposals.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I will convey the Deputy's concerns to my departmental officials so they may be stitched into whatever agreement we have. I am sure the Deputy realises that the amount of money is not huge given the number of communities involved. I will make every effort to ensure the smaller communities to which the Deputy referred are not excluded.