Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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477. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which a qualified able seaman would update their qualifications and acquire a discharge book in order to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17238/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I refer the Deputy to Marine Notice No. 6 of 2014 which advises on the transition of Able Seaman certificates issued prior to 1st January 2012 to the Able Seafarer (Deck) Certificate of Proficiency.Such certificates were valid until 31st December 2016 providing that holders completed the transition to Able Seafarer (Deck) before that date.

Persons failing to meet this deadline must now make a fresh application to obtain an Able Seafarer Deck Certificate in line with the requirements set out in the Marine Notice. 

http://www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/MN06of2014_TransitionFromAbleSeamantoAbleSeafarer.pdf 

The eligibility criteria and application process to acquire an Irish Seafarers Discharge book can be found on my Department’s Seafarers website at the following link

It should be noted that an Able Seafarer Deck Certificate is not a requirement for the acquisition of a discharge book.