asked the Minister for Fisheries whether he is aware of the threat of redundancies in the BIM boatyard in Baltimore, County Cork; what steps he proposes to take to prevent this; and the proposals he has for the future development of the boatyard.

20.

asked the Minister for Fisheries if he will give an assurance that there will be no redundancies in Dingle boatyard, County Kerry.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.

While there has been an appreciable drop in orders for new fishing vessels at the BIM boatyards at Baltimore and Dingle, I believe that this is of a temporary nature and stems mainly from the uncertainty surrounding the future EEC Common Fisheries Policy.

The position at the yards is at present under active consideration by the board, my Department and the Department of Finance with a view to seeing what can be done to maintain employment there. Meantime, I am glad to be able to announce improved terms for the purchase of fishing boats, which I am confident will help to generate more work in Irish boatyards. These comprise an extension of the loan repayment period for boats over 65 feet from eight years to up to 12 years; the provision of a new 25 per cent grant for the purchase of first issues of gear: and an increase from 25 per cent to 50 per cent in the grant towards the cost of converting boats to new approved fishing methods. These new aids, together with the existing ones, make our marine credit plan a highly attractive package for fishermen.

Bearing in mind that the BIM boatyard in Baltimore is the only major industry in the area and that redundancies would have a catastrophic effect, could the Minister give an assurance to the House that there will not be any redundancies there in the immediate future?

I appreciate the seriousness of the position. I am having it examined at the moment. I am not in a position as yet to give any guarantees as such. That would be premature. I am having the position thoroughly examined and I appreciate the seriousness of the position.

Can the Minister hold out hope to the workers in the area who are very concerned about their position that redundancies will not occur in the immediate future?

All I can say is that the improved terms I have just announced in the way of increased grants and improved loan facilities are designed precisely to stimulate interest on the part of fishermen in the purchase of new boats. I am informed that already it is well known within the fishing industry that this package is forthcoming. I concluded my discussions with Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the banks so that I could make this announcement today. In my view this will have the effect of stimulating the interest necessary to generate employment in our boatyards.

The news in relation to the new boat building is encouraging. Will the Minister consider the expenditure of money on the provision of proper repair facilities in the Baltimore yard?

I will have that matter examined. I am grateful for the suggestion and I will communicate with the Deputy in connection with it.

Can the Minister tell the House the number of orders the Dingle boatyard has?

At present there is a difficult order position.

How many orders has the boatyard?

I am bringing in a measure that will keep the boatyard going.

Can the Minister give the House an assurance that there will not be redundancies in the boatyard until his measures come into effect? It may take three months for that to happen.

I will ensure that redundancies do not take place until we see how these measures work out. The measures are designed to stimulate interest in the purchase of fishing boats.

Will the Minister tell me what he means by his statement that redundancies will not take place until he sees how the measures work out? Does he mean six months or 12 months?

We cannot have argument across the floor of the House.

We are not having an argument. This is a very serious matter as the Ceann Comhairle, who represents Killybegs, must appreciate.

The Deputy should address his supplementaries through the Chair.

Will the Minister give me an assurance that there will not be any redundancies at the Dingle boatyard in the near future?

In the immediate near future there will not be any redundancies.

The Minister cannot even give a straight answer to that question.

There will be no redundancies in the near future but the measures I announced today concern the long term. When Deputy Richie Ryan was Minister for Finance there was a cutback in this precise area and it is in this area that we are increasing the financial incentives and facilities to fishermen. As a result the boat building industry should be stimulated by increased orders. That is all I am saying to the Deputy and I hope it is precise enough.

The Minister should remember that during Deputy Richie Ryan's term the number of people employed in the boatyard increased from 30 to 60.

The facts are——

I have given the facts. Is it the intention of the Minister to dismiss the additional 30 people taken on?

The facts are that in the course of the traumatic financial cutbacks in the public service two years ago one of the main sufferers was the marine credit plan of Board Iascaigh Mhara. As a result there was almost a total cessation of interest by fishermen in the purchase of boats.

The number of people employed at the boatyard increased from 30 to 60.

The sort of thing the Deputy has been talking about did not start last June; it commenced two years ago.

I should like to ask the Minister to extend the assurance he has given in relation to Dingle, such as it is, to the Baltimore yard.

I have already given that assurance and explained the position to the Deputy.

Will the Minister put any term on it?

I cannot do that.

It will be all right in the immediate near future also?

Yes. That is an excellent phrase and I am proud of it.

It is unique.

Would the Minister like to qualify it as the early immediate near future?

The Deputy should work out these various definitions with Deputy Donegan. I am told that at various Council meetings in Europe they were intrigued by his definitions.