asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that at Teelin, County Donegal, there is an excellent harbour with good anchorage and two deep-water piers, all in close proximity to the best fishing grounds on our coast; that the fishermen there are without boats or equipment; and if his Department will give favourable consideration to the applications for seine-net fishing boats from competent young fishermen in this Fíor-Ghaeltacht area.

There is a good harbour at Teelin within reasonable distance of good fishing grounds. I am not aware, however, that the Teelin fishermen are without boats or equipment. My information is that the Sea Fisheries Association has supplied a number of them with fishing gear during the past 12 months. The association is prepared to consider as sympathetically as possible applications for boats on hire-purchase terms in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions. The present position is that there is a long waiting list for the very small number of boats which become available.