Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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132. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown of the moneys paid out from the salmon hardship scheme; to whom it was paid; and the purposes for which the monitoring was undertaken to ensure that the money was spent on what it was provided for. [20738/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Salmon Hardship Scheme was introduced following a Government decision to cease the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery in the sea for conservation reasons. Under this scheme, €25m was targeted at commercial salmon fishermen who were active in the fishery at the time and funding was provided to fishermen for them to leave the fishery and diversify into new activity. It closed for applications on 31st December 2007 and was wound up in 2008 and I understand that all funds were expended.

A detailed record of individual payments is not held in the records of my Department as the scheme was administered by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), an agency under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have directed your enquiry to BIM asking them to respond directly to you. I understand that payments to individuals were based on verifiable track record and recorded catches in the five years prior to its introduction. I am advised that the average payment under the scheme was almost €23,000 and the highest payment was over €195,000.