Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the way the proposed €3 million support fund for unemployed crew members resulting from the whitefish decommissioning programme will be allocated; and the means by which such unemployed workers can access retraining and other supports from this fund or other funding. [33295/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The current funding available for decommissioning is provided to enable immediate decommissioning of vessels from the fleet so as to improve the economic viability of the remainder of the fleet. The general position in the Irish fishing industry in recent years is that there has been an overall shortage of crewmen. Accordingly, and as only a portion of the fleet is being decommissioned, it could be expected that many crew members on vessels which are decommissioning will be able to find alternative employment elsewhere in the industry.

All fishermen are eligible to undertake Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) training programmes including those serving on vessels that are decommissioning. In this regard, BIM and FÁS have agreed to co-operate to provide training for fishing vessel crew members that find themselves without a job when their fishing vessel is decommissioned. Both agencies will work closely together to provide retraining, up-skilling or diversification opportunities in the seafood industry or elsewhere in the economy as required.

Under the EU Seafood Development Operational Programme for Ireland (2007-2013), € 7.2M has been set aside for the sustainable development and improvement of the quality of life in fisheries areas and to maintain economic and social prosperity in these communities.