Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 322: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is no longer possible to complete a full skipper ticket at the BIM training centre in Castletownbere, County Cork, following the loss of a teacher in the college; the reasons the individual post has been vacated; the circumstances under which the post can be re-filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12500/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

BIM is an independent statutory body and has advised my Department that the demands of delivering the 14 week intensive course leading to the Skipper Full Certificate of Competency require the availability of two Master Mariner plus other instructors with maritime qualifications satisfying the requirements of the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.

In August, 2008 the employment contract of one Master Mariner Instructor in the Regional Fisheries Centre, Castletownbere concluded. As a result the Skipper Full Certificate of Competency course could not be offered in Castletownbere. Aspiring candidates were redirected to BIM's National Fisheries College, Greencastle, Co. Donegal. Following the retirement a Master Mariner in Greencastle in December 2010, BIM had to cancel Skipper Full Certificate.

My Department and BIM have commenced discussions on addressing the personnel needs of delivering the Skipper Full Certificate course in the context of BIM's Employment Control Framework targets. BIM advise that in the interim it intends to seek instructors on a service supply basis on the Government's eTenders site as a matter of urgency.