Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to replace staff in the BIM training school in Castletownbere, County Cork, in order that the full course may be offered to many applicants seeking to undertake and complete the full skipper ticket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13355/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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BIM is an independent statutory body tasked with providing vocational training to the seafood industry. BIM 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.

Following the retirement of a Master Mariner in Greencastle in December 2010, BIM have commenced discussions with my Department on addressing the personnel needs of delivering the Skipper Full Certificate course in the context of BIM's Employment Control Framework targets which have been set by the Department of Finance. BIM advises 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.