andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if a purification tank for mussels will be provided at Mornington, County Meath.

The provision of a mussel purification tank at Mornington, County Meath, is a matter primarily for the fishermen concerned. It would be open to the fishermen to seek grant assistance in the matter from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

Is it not the case that the fishermen concerned have been in communication with the Department along these lines?

My information is that they have not, but if that is the case certainly I will check on the matter.

I have been in correspondence with the Minister on their behalf.

Certainly I will check on that aspect and will come back to the Deputy on it.

Is the Minister aware that for a purification plant to be viable there has to be a sufficient quantity of mussels? Is he aware that to secure an adequate number of mussels there needs to be reseeding of the mussel beds? Would he agree to make a grant available for reseeding the mussel beds in this area which have become seriously depleted and on which action must be taken within the next few weeks if reseeding is to take place at the right time of the year?

I will certainly take that up as a matter of urgency. There is also the other problem that mussel production goes for processing as well and to some extent there is competition between the fresh mussel sales as against mussels going for processing. I will look after that aspect of it.

Will the Minister have a special look at the problem of reseeding as that is the most important matter?

Yes, because that increases production. I will check on the matter today and I will be in touch with the Deputy.