asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he will undertake training programmes for young fishermen interested in aquaculture and fish farming to enable them to undertake fish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

An Bord Iascaigh Mhara provides practical training in fish farming for beginners at the National Fisheries Training Centre at Greencastle, where trainee fishermen also receive instruction. Some of the course modules are common to both fish farming and sea fisheries, e.g. safety and survival at sea, handling of small boats, net mending and out-board engine maintenance. The board also provides part time courses in fish farming at venues around the coast as a back-up to the Greencastle programme.