Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme

Fógra Poiblí

Mon, 22/10/2018

The Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme will provide €3million over three years to fisherpersons experiencing hardship following the Government’s decision to follow scientific advice on eel stocks from 2009 and beyond.

The Scheme offers a restitution payment to former eel fisherpersons who were licenced / permitted to engage with the commercial eel fishery in 2007.

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Key Points about the Scheme:

The fund is available to all commercial eel licence holders who held a licence (or an eel fishing permit from the E.S.B.) in the 2007 season.
A tax free sum may be paid to licence or permit holders in respect of each of the five reckonable years (2003-2007) 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 (2003-2007).

The scheme will be open for applications from the 22nd of October until 5pm on the 30th of November 2018.

To apply, use the application form in the Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet and Application Form[pdf] or

Leabhrán na Scéime Tacaíochta d’Iascairí Eascann

Further information is available in the Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet and Application Form or Leabhrán na Scéime Tacaíochta d’Iascairí Eascann and from the Eel Support Scheme Administrative Office:

Eel Support Scheme
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Teach Breac
Earl’s Island
H91E2A2
Galway

Email: eelsupport@fisheriesireland.ie
Telephone: (0)91563118

Privacy Notice - Eel Support Scheme
Fógra Príobháideachais

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Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme FAQ

Why has this scheme been set up?

The scheme has been set up to offer a restitution payment specifically targeted at former eel fishermen and women who were actively engaged with the commercial eel fishery. Following a public consultation in 2008 and the formation of the National Eel Management Plan, the commercial eel fishery was closed in order to follow scientific advice on eel stocks. This payment is for those that experienced financial hardship as a result of those restrictions.

For more information see Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet and Application Form [.pdf]

Who is entitled to apply to this scheme?

The fund is available to former commercial eel licence holders who held a Regional Fisheries Board (State) eel fishing licence in their name or were named on an ESB eel fishing permit in 2007.

What are licence and permit holders entitled to under the scheme?

A tax free sum may be paid to licence or permit holders in respect of each of the five reckonable years (2003-2007) 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 (2003-2007)

How will payments be assessed and how much could I receive?

Licence Based Payment

This element of the support payment is tax exempt. Once a licence or permit was held in 2007, the records for prior years from 2003- 2007 are taken into consideration.

Payment will be made in respect of the applicant being the holder of a licence / permit in any given year and not in respect of each licence / permit held.

Year	Single Licence	Shared Permit
2003	€4,000	€2,000
2004	€3,500	€1,750
2005	€3,000	€1,500
2006	€2,500	€1,250
2007	€1,000	€500

Catch Payment

A taxable payment will be made on the basis of declared catch returns to either Inland Fisheries Ireland or the ESB for the years in question.

Once a licence or permit was held in 2007, the fisherman’s or woman’s catch records for prior years (2003-2007) are taken into consideration towards an average annual catch.

Average catch per years fished	Gross Payment
0	€0
1-50	€1,000
51-150	€1,500
151- 300	€3,000
301-650	€6,000
651-1000	€10,000
1001-1500	€13,000
1501-2000	€16,000
2001-4000	€21,000
Over 4000	€23,000

Please see the Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet for further information.

When will payments be made?

The fund will be paid over a period of three years and the amount will be paid in three instalments. The first non-taxable instalment will be paid before the 31st of December 2018. It is also intended, subject to verification from the Revenue Commissioners, that the first taxable instalment will also be paid before the 31st of December 2018. The two further instalments will be paid on the 1st of July in the two subsequent years (2019 and 2020).

What if a licensee held a state licence and was also a shared holder of an ESB permit for the same year?

If a licensee held a state licence and was also a shared holder of an ESB Permit for the same year, they will receive the full credit for holding the licence for the year in question.

What if an ESB permit was held two names?

Where ESB Permits were held in two names, licence based payments and catch payments will be divided equally between the named individuals.

Is the scheme applicable to nominees on eel fishing licenses?

No, this scheme is not applicable to nominees on eel fishing licences. It is only applicable to holders of licenses / permits.

My father/mother/ close relative were holder(s) of license / permit but are now deceased. Do I have a right to apply to the scheme on their behalf?

No. This is a hardship fund for former eel fisherpersons who were holders of licenses /permits in 2007 and who are still living today.

I held a licence for several years prior to 2007. Can I apply?

No, this scheme is only open to former eel fisherpersons who were holders of licences / permits in the year 2007.

Why must you have had a licence in 2007 in order to apply to the scheme?

Anyone who held a licence in 2007 was made redundant from the fishery when the decision was reached to close it in 2008. This means they may have suffered financial hardship as a result of the closure.

Those who exited the eel fishery themselves prior to 2007 were not affected when the fishery closed in 2008.

I had a property right to an eel fishery; does this scheme affect those property rights?

This scheme does not affect any property rights. If an applicant also held a licence, they are entitled to make an application to the Support Scheme.

I cannot find my catch records. Can Inland Fisheries Ireland provide the relevant information to me and can I use this information in my application?

Yes, Inland Fisheries Ireland will provide catch records as returned by the fisherperson for the years in question.

What if the applicant has been approved for payment but subsequently dies. What happens then?

Where a person is approved for payment and is subsequently deceased, the payment will accrue to their estate subject to the relevant rules from the Revenue Commissioners.

What should I do if I disagree with the amount of payment offered or the fact that I have been refused payment?

Any applicant who is of the view that the amount of payment offered is not correct within the terms and conditions of the scheme or disagrees with the refusal to offer payment within the terms and conditions of the scheme has a right to appeal. Please note the applicant must be able to prove that they fully complied with the terms and conditions of the scheme and the Revenue Commissioners for the years in question.

Appeals (to include all documentation pertaining to the claim) should be sent to the below address before the closing date of the 1st of February 2019. Appeals which relate to any matter not within the terms and conditions of the scheme cannot be considered.

Eel Support Scheme

Appeals Officer

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Elm House

Elm Bank

Cavan

H12 A8H7

If I qualify for the scheme, what must I do in order to receive payments?

Applicants must make an application, provide certain specific personal details to allow for cross reference with records, give an undertaking not to make a future application for a commercial eel licence or permit, decommission their nets and be in a position to comply with relevant tax clearance procedures.

When will the scheme be open?

The scheme will be open for applications from the 22nd of October 2018 until 5pm on the 20th of November 2018.

How quickly will I hear if my application has been successful?

Applicants who qualify for the scheme will be informed within three weeks and the level of payment will also be advised.

Where can I get further information or support for a query on this scheme?

Further information is available in the Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet and Application Form

Applicants can also contact a member of the Eel Support Scheme Team at:

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Teach Breac

Earl’s Island

H91E2A2

Galway

Email: eelsupport@fisheriesireland.ie

Telephone: (0)91563118

How do I apply?

Application forms and Information Booklets are available from any Inland Fisheries Ireland River Basin District Office (full list here) or from this link Eel Fisherpersons Support Scheme Booklet and Application Form

Applications must be forwarded via registered post to address below with a copy of photo identity stamped or signed by a Garda.

Eel Support Scheme

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Teach Breac

Earl’s Island

H91E2A2

Galway

Applicants can also submit an application by hand to any Inland Fisheries Ireland River Basin District Office with an original proof of identification.

Privacy Notice

Privacy Notice - Eel Support Scheme

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