asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many trawler owners will be unable to meet BIM loan repayment deadlines because they cannot go to sea to fish because of inadequate quota allocations achieved by him at EC meetings; and if he will outline the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the developing crisis for the trawler owners concerned.

While I am aware of general complaints by Irish fishermen about quota restrictions, no borrower has advised an Bord Iascaigh Mhara that he is unable to meet his repayments for this reason. At the end of September this year, the level of collections on BIM loan accounts is the same as for the corresponding period last year.

Is the Minister not aware that a number of trawler owners have expressed concern about their financial position because of their inability to use their vessels on a five, six or seven day a week basis?

I do not think it is correct to say that they are tied up for five or six days of the week. I appreciate that there are problems with quota restrictions. I would certainly like to think that all of the fish we are landing would be non-quota species, but because of the common fisheries policy we entered into on 1 January 1983 we find ourselves in this situation and we will not be in a position to review the matter until 1991-92. The management regime we introduced on assuming power in March of last year has worked to the best advantage of the industry. The repayments this year are at a very high level, as they were last year. I would reassure the House that there has been an improvement in the ratio of collections to debts in respect of the direct board loans contingent during 1987. The overall level of repayments to charges was 80 per cent in 1987 compared with 75 per cent in 1986. There are special difficulties, operational and otherwise, affecting some 7 per cent of the vessels on which the board has outstanding loans. If the loans in respect of these vessels were not taken into account the ratio of collections to charges would be 93 per cent. I would like to pay tribute to all of those in the industry who are making such an effort. It is at an all-time high. We would certainly like it to be 100 per cent. It is my job and the job of BIM to ensure that we have a 100 per cent return as that money is used on a roll over basis for new boats and the refurbishment of boats coming into the fleet. I am reasonably satisfied taking into consideration the quota restrictions referred to.

I am not referring to historical statistics relating to 1987 or 1986. I am referring to 1988, to what is happening now and what has been happening in the last few months because of the poor fishing season.

I should like relevant questions please.

Deputy Molloy may or may not be au fait with the number of boats from the west coast which are fishing in the Celtic Sea at the moment. I received a request from sections of the industry last week to close the Celtic Sea because of the quality of the fish there. I was not happy to accede to that request because I am quite satisfied that the quality is reasonable. The price being paid there at the moment, from £14 to £18 a box, reflects the demand that is there.

This question is taking a long time to deal with, to the detriment of other questions on the Order Paper. I will hear a brief question from Deputy Molloy and a brief one from Deputy McGinley.

Are the Department aware, from correspondence from me, that a number of individuals have expressed concern about their position?

I accept that Deputy Molloy has corresponded with the Department and that a number of individuals are concerned. We have a regime in place and there is still a reasonable quantity left in the Celtic Sea. As a result of the closing of the area around the Blaskets this year, south of Cobh next year and south of Dunmore East, known traditionally as Bagginbun, we achieved an additional 3,000 tonnes which was welcomed by the industry, the processors and the fishermen. We have no intention of closing this area and will only do so if we find the quality of fish is not reasonable and that they were not being sold for human consumption but were going to make fish meal.