John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the hardship schemes in place from 2005 to 2008 and 2008 to 2013 to support fishermen under financial pressure or with fishing boats which did not meet the required safety standards at that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52542/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department did not implement any hardship schemes as described in the Deputy's question.  However, during the years in question, Bord Iascaigh Mhara implemented a Fleet Safety Scheme, which provided grants to the owners of fishing vessels to improve the safety of the vessel and crew, including for the purposes of meeting National and European Union safety standards.  Details of the grants awarded by BIM under the Scheme are presented in tabular form in the BIM Annual Reports for the years concerned, which are available at the following link: 

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A Salmon Hardship Scheme was implemented by BIM on behalf of the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.  The Scheme was introduced following a decision in 2006 to cease, for conservation reasons, the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery in the sea. In excess of €25 million was allocated to the scheme to facilitate payments to fishermen with a further €5 million provided for community development projects. Under the Scheme, fishermen active in the fishery could opt to voluntarily cease fishing in the commercial drift net and draft net sectors and undertake not to seek a licence in the future.  Payments to individuals were based on verifiable track record and recorded catches in the five years prior to its introduction. The average payment under the Scheme was almost €23,000.  The Scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008 and all funds were expended.