asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the efforts being made to ensure that dogfish are processed within the country.

It is the policy of my Department and development agencies such as An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Industrial Development Authority, and Údarás na Gaeltachta to encourage fish processing generally as an industry which adds value to a natural resource and provides employment. Grants are available for suitable projects but the development of fish processing is of course primarily a matter for private enterprise.

There is a growing market in the United Kingdom and on the Continent for fresh, whole, and primary processed, skinned and frozen, dogfish. A number of Irish firms are taking advantage of this and include dogfish among the more traditional species processed by them. A County Donegal project recently approved for grant aid will specialise in the processing of dogfish for export.

Is the Minister aware that while the UK market is good for dogfish in its fresh state, there was a period when the local merchants and coops had to impose a quota on the amount being landed because of the British market not being in a position to absorb this type of fish? Will the Minister agree with the necessity to ensure that greater efforts are made by BIM and the Department in respect of the processing of this species? This is a new development on the west coast and one which could assist those fishermen with the smaller type boats who up to now have depended largley on other species of fish which are no longer available.

There is no need for me to ask the IDA to make grants available.

I did not refer to the IDA.

In the Donegal case the capital grants come from the IDA. Grants are available for the processing of dogfish just as they are available for the processing of any other fish so there is no problem in that regard.

This is another instance of a change in policy that we have not been made aware of. Can the Minister indicate when the IDA became responsible for grant aiding projects in the area of west Donegal?

Is the Deputy talking about the Moville project?

Yes.

In that respect a grant of £45,500 has been approved by the IDA. The Deputy has asked when the change of policy took place and the answer to that is that I do not know.