andMr. White asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of boat-owners who have loans from BIM on boats (a) up to 50 feet and (b) in excess of 50 feet, and the number whose repayments are in arrears.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have it circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

(a) Number of loans on (i) boats under 50 feet, 289; (ii) boats over 50 feet, 143.

(b) Number of loans in arrears on (i) boats under 50 feet, 160; (ii) boats over 50 feet, 97.

Of the total of 257 cases at (b) above 155 are in arrears of less than £1,000 in each case.

This is a very important question. Could the Minister tell the House the number of loans that are for boats under 50 feet and the number from 50 feet up?

Of a total of 257 cases in arrears 155 are in arrears to the tune of less than £1,000.

What about the other 100?

The number of loans that are in arrears——

The Deputy might wait until he gets the answer.

The number of loans in arrears on boats under 50 feet is 160, and the number of loans in arrears on boats over 50 feet is 97.

I thank the Minister for that reply, but is he aware that there seems to be undue pressure on certain fishermen at present in regard to their repayments? When the price of fish is so low surely BIM should ease up a little on that pressure.

I am not so aware. Any cases which have been brought to my notice and in which I have taken an interest have convinced me that BIM are not at all pressing in arrears on boats.