Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint temporary staff to the Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, training school in Castletownbere, County Cork, to allow applicants complete the full skipper ticket. [21518/11]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the staff in the Bord Iascaigh Mhara training school in Castletownbere, County Cork, will be replaced, in order that applicants can undertake the skipper full certificate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21570/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together.

BIM is an independent statutory body and the main provider of vocational training to the seafood industry and hence policy in this regard is a matter for the Agency. I am examining a request received from BIM in the last week for additional staff to meet the needs of delivering the Skipper Full Certificate course. This request must be considered in the context of BIM's Employment Control Framework targets and will require Department of Finance approval. BIM has advised my Department that in the interim it has sought to secure instructors on a service supply basis on the Government's eTenders site.