Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Leader is familiar with the many tragedies we have had at sea around our coast over the years. As a Donegal man, I have heard of far too many of our fishermen losing their lives. We were delighted in 2016 when it was announced by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that it would fund a €1.5 million sea safety and survival training centre at the National Fisheries College at Greencastle. The centre would have a deep 15 m pool where weather conditions found at sea could be simulated. The only other pool of this kind on the island is in Cork, so there would be one at the top of the island in Greencastle on the Inishowen Peninsula and one at the bottom in Cork. Fishermen and others involved in life-saving would be trained, including Coast Guard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution personnel. It could train people from Mayo up the coast to the top of Donegal, as well as people from the Six Counties, I am sure.

We learned in recent days that the announcement made just a week before the general election in 2016 has been rowed back. Bord Iascaigh Mhara has said it will not now proceed. This centre would have cost €1.5 million and it is essential. I have spoken to people in the college and the community, as well as fishermen, and people are very angry about this. There is a real sense of betrayal. I ask that the Leader would send a transcript of what I have said to the Minister with responsibility for the marine and ask him and his Department officials to urgently intervene, meet officials from Bord Iascaigh Mhara and see how this officially announced centre could be made a reality.That is the least the Government can do for the fishing communities right along the west coast and into the North.