Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, by 20 November 2005 the application of a County Wexford scallop fisherman (details supplied) under the decommissioning proposals had been deemed by his Department to be fully in order; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person will become liable for daily harbour dues in the near future because, owing to circumstances beyond his control, his boat remains docked pending decommissioning; the reason this person's compensation package has not been paid eight months after application; if other County Wexford boat owners are similarly affected; the steps he will take to ensure that this person's and other outstanding compensation packages are paid to the owners without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The fishing vessel decommissioning scheme was launched on 4 October 2005. The deadline for receipt of applications for the scheme was 1 November 2005. Following the first phase of the approvals process, letters of offer issued to those applicants who met the mandatory eligibility criteria, in line with EU rules and who opted to decommission their vessels in the first round in late November 2005. In December, BIM, which is the implementing authority for the scheme, paid grants totalling €4.1 million in respect of the first 15 vessels decommissioned. Approvals in respect of the planned second and third tranches of the scheme will issue during 2006.

The applicant referred to by the Deputy has been advised by BIM that their application did not meet the mandatory eligibility criteria on its initial assessment. The applicant has also been advised that their application is being reviewed, and they have been given the opportunity to supply any further supporting data regarding eligibility. The Department has recently received further data and it is currently being assessed.

I am aware that the applicant's vessel is liable for harbour dues and that the vessel remains docked. However, this is not due to the decommissioning scheme, rather it is due to the fact that the vessel fishing licence expired on 30 June 2005, because it does not have an EU mandatory certificate of compliance, which is a matter for the owner of the vessel.

I am also aware that a small number of other applicants are in a similar position. These applicants have also been given the opportunity to supply further supporting data regarding eligibility.

I recently secured additional funding for BIM for the decommissioning scheme in 2006 and I can assure the Deputy that there will be no unnecessary delay either by the Department or BIM in assessing any additional data supplied by applicants or in paying grants once any of these applicants has fully complied with all of the terms and conditions of the scheme.