Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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574. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the eel fishermen compensation scheme for affected fishermen on Lough Ree; and the reason compensation did not issue in December 2018 as initially reported. [6348/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s Eel Support Scheme fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a State commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the ESB in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007. There is no geographical distinction in the qualifying criteria for the scheme which apply nationally.

The fund is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Correspondence issued from IFI in the first instance to applicants whose applications were deemed not to meet the criteria for the Support scheme. This was to facilitate possible appeals to the decision of IFI as regards eligibility or other matters. I will be extending the deadline for the receipt of appeals to 5.00pm on Friday 22 February 2019.

While it was intended that letters of offer would issue in December 2018, a key element of offers is to outline clearly the need for recipients to comply with all Revenue requirements and to make the appropriate tax return to the Revenue Commissioners.

I am advised by IFI that individualised letters of offer to applicants deemed eligible, based on individual verification of the records held by the State in respect of each applicant, have issued. Payment can issue to any individual applicant once the applicant communicates, in writing, formal acceptance of the offer and confirmation of an undertaking to adhere to the conditions of the scheme and the letter of offer.