518. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position with regard to the initial instalments under the support fund for former commercial eel fishermen and women which were due to have been paid to approved applicants by 31 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2844/19]

The Government’s Eel Support Scheme fund is available to all persons who were the holder of a commercial public eel licence or an eel fishing permit from the ESB in the 2007 season (the base year). The 5 reckonable years for payments under the scheme are 2003-2007. This requires that an application is made by the former licence holder. The fund is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) A tax free sum may be paid to licence or permit holders in respect of each of the five reckonable years for which they were a licence or permit holder. A further taxable payment may be made to licence or permit holders in respect of the average of their catches, based on State held records, during the five reckonable years.

Letters of Offer to applicants, based on verification of the records held by the State in respect of each applicant, are being issued and this process is expected to be finalised this week. A key element of offers is to outline clearly the need for recipients to make a tax return to the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the taxable element of the scheme. Payment will issue once the applicant has accepted the offer.