Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the level of State finance that was provided over the past five years to support the building of new fishing vessels; the number of new vessels which were built to operate in the new deepwater fisheries that opened up in recent years; and the level of State support for these vessels. [3679/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for the renewal of the whitefish fleet was introduced in 1998 as part of the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999. The programme was operated by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and included grant aid for the introduction of new and modern second-hand whitefish vessels, modernisation of existing vessels and safety grants.

Under the programme 29 new vessels were grant aided, ranging in size from nine metres to 37 metres in length. The total investment cost of these vessels was €48.2 million and this cost was supported by grant aid of €13.16 million consisting of €7.36 million in State aid — 25% of eligible costs — and €5.8 million in EU, FIFG, aid — 20% of eligible costs. Building on the success of the whitefish renewal scheme, a further measure, the fishing fleet development measure, was introduced as part of the NDP Operational Programme for Fisheries 2000-2006.

Under the fishing fleet development measure, which was also operated by BIM, 35 new vessels ranging from nine metres to 37 metres in length were approved for grant aid with an estimated investment of €55 million. Total grant aid approved was €14.38 million consisting of €1.80 million in State aid, 5% of eligible costs, and €12.58 million in EU-FIFG aid, 35% of eligible costs. By 1 February 2005, 32 of these vessels have been delivered with the remaining three expected in the next two months to complete the measure.

Deep sea quotas were introduced for the first time in 2002. Revised quotas for 2005 and 2006, involving cuts of 15%, were agreed at last December's Council. Total allowable catches, TACs, and quotas were also introduced for a number of additional deep sea stocks at the December Council. In addition, a closed area off the west coast was put in place in respect of the orange roughy fishery. These measures are being introduced with the intention of providing for a sustainable deep sea fishery into the future. In respect of the stocks subject to TACs, most of which are high value, the Irish fleet has quotas of 2,954 tonnes available to it in 2005. On the basis of these allocations and additional opportunities for other non-quota stocks, the deep sea fishery remains important to the Irish fleet.

Of the 21 vessels over 24 metres in length, only two were specifically designed with the capacity to target exclusively deep water species. Both vessels, however, retain all the attributes and equipment required to allow them also target traditional, non-deep water stocks. All the vessels introduced were replacing vessels in the fleet and, as such, did not add capacity to the fleet. They were introduced to enhance the operational efficiency, competitiveness and safety of the whitefish fleet in respect of traditional quota stocks and new species.

I am satisfied that the investment in the whitefish fleet has enabled this sector to meet the challenges facing it, that it will ensure the maximum value is obtained from fully exploited volume restricted fisheries and that it has promoted the development of the important deep sea fisheries and more selective fishing technologies.