Marine: The Government will meet its commitment to a "hardship fund" of more than €25 million for salmon drift-net fishermen, although only €10 million of this has been provided for in the Estimates, Minister of State for the Marine John Browne has said.
Additional monies to compensate for a drift-net ban will be allowed for in the revised Estimates in the new year, Mr Browne said. A €5 million fund for a community support scheme will also be earmarked.
Mr Browne said he was also "committed" to improving funding for enforcement through fisheries boards to ensure that replenished salmon stocks in rivers are not "unlawfully taken".
Marine estimates provide for €10.8 million to establish the new sea fisheries protection authority on January 1st. This new authority will be "wholly independent" of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and will be charged with the State's sea fisheries law-enforcement functions.
Almost €46 million will be provided for Bord Iascaigh Mhara to provide for its running costs, the fishing vessel decommissioning scheme and National Development Plan programmes.
Fisheries protection is also provided for in the Department of Defence estimates, with two Air Corps Casa maritime patrol aircraft being upgraded at a cost of nearly €17 million. Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said yesterday that planning was "well under way" on the replacement programme for three Naval Service patrol vessels.
