36 Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for the Marine if personnel engaged in fire fighting instruction at Greencastle Fisheries School, County Donegal are qualified and experienced to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The course to which the Deputy refers is a specialist two-day course in ship-board fire-fighting which is approved by my Department's chief examiner of masters and mates. Successful participants are awarded certificates on completion of the course. Each certificate awarded is recorded by the Department of the Marine.

The National Fisheries Training Centre personnel who provide instruction on the course have been trained to do so and are likewise approved by my Department's chief examiner of masters and mates.

The course does not aim to cover all the aspects of fire-fighting which would be covered in the broadly-based course for professional fire-fighters. Rather, the aim is to give fishermen the essential fire-fighting skills necessary for on-vessel safety.