Great work from our committee member and region representative Eamonn Hayes
Article circulated with permission, to read article as PDF please click HERE

From: Diarmuid Ryan <diarmuid.ryan@fisheriesireland.ie>
Date: 16/12/2020 14:36:55
Subject: FW: Behaviour & Attitudes survey of Irish sea anglers.
To: donalakennedy@gmail.com
 
Dear Sea anglers,
 
Many thanks for taking the time to complete our online survey back in August. We had an unprecedented response and due to your input we can use the information to make informed decisions about how best to focus our efforts in characterising the current state of sea angling in Ireland.  
 
We have collated the data and produced a very brief report on some of the output which we believe you may be interested in (attached). Having said that, if you recall a question which we haven’t mentioned here and would like to know the response, just ask. We would be more than happy to provide you with anonymised data. Unfortunately we cannot present all of the information collected in just four pages. We intend publishing a full report in 2021 which will examine all output in detail.
 
COVID19 permitting, we will have survey teams back out on the coast next year to collect data relating to catch rates among recreational sea anglers. Maybe we will see you on the beaches. To keep you up to date, our online diary is currently in testing and we plan to release it in early 2021. We will notify you when it’s ready. If you would like to contribute to the project in any other way, please get in touch.
If on the other hand, you are not interested in continuing to take part in the project please let us know and we can remove you from this list.
 
For further information please refer to: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Projects/imrec.html
 
 
Tight lines,
 
Diarmuid
 
Diarmuid Ryan PhD
Project Manager
Marine Recreational Angling Survey
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Iascach Intíre Éireann
Inland Fisheries Ireland
 
Tel      +353 (0) 884 2659
Mob    +353 (0) 87 2329465                      Fax     +353 (0)1 836 0060
Email   diarmuid.ryan@fisheriesireland.ie
Web    www.fisheriesireland.ie
3044 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, IRELAND, D24 Y265


Click HERE for the short report 

Latest email correspondence between Fáilte Ireland Projects Officer Fionnan Nestor and ICSA chairman Donal Kennedy

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From: Fionnan Nestor <fionnan.nestor@failteireland.ie>
Date: 01/09/2020 12:49:25
Subject: RE: Other grants and funding
To: Donal Kennedy <donalakennedy@gmail.com>

Hi Donal,
 
I’m very sorry that you don’t qualify for those two funding streams and the amount available via our own Adaptation Fund is limited.
 
Of course I agree that charter skippers play a really important role in Irish tourism – our research shows that on-the-water sight seeing experiences are among the most compelling and attractive activities for visitors to Ireland.
 
I am communicating your frustration with the support being made available to your sector to our tourism recovery taskforce who are advocating on behalf of tourism at government level. I have done this before and am doing it again today to ensure they are aware of the pressure you and your colleagues are under.
 
Again I’m sorry we can’t offer more at the moment but this crisis is far from over and more supports will be coming down the line so its important to keep banging the drum to ensure you are heard, not just with ourselves but with your own Minster and local representatives.
 
Will keep in touch.
 
Fionnán Nestor
Projects Officer, Wild Atlantic Way | Fáilte Ireland
Discover Ireland Centre, Bridge Street, Westport, Co. Mayo F28 NF77
T +353 (0)98 51502 | M +353 (0)86 048 1877 | www.failteireland.ie
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From: Donal Kennedy <donalakennedy@gmail.com>
Date: 29/08/2020 09:36:07
Subject: Re: Other grants and funding
To: Fionnan Nestor <fionnan.nestor@failteireland.ie>

Hi Fionnan

Thanks for the info.

Can not see anything that we can apply for. We are basically sole traders.
I fear that we are going to have charter skippers going broke and not continuing with their business next year. Loss of dedicated and licensed skippers will have a big impact on the tourist trade and boat competitions nationwide. Does anybody care?

Regards

Donal

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On 27/08/2020 11:12:10, Fionnan Nestor <fionnan.nestor@failteireland.ie> wrote:
Hi Donal,
 
I am no sure if you would be eligible for either of the following as they sit with other departments but I would suggest you take a look and see as I’d be surprised if you can not draw down from one of them…
 
Restart Grant Plus
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/COVID-19-Restart-Grant-Local-Authority-Websites.html
Grants of between €4,000 up to a maximum of €25,000 are available.
 
To qualify for the scheme, enterprises must have:

• 250 employees or less;
• Turnover of less than €100,000 per employee; and
• Reduced turnover by 25% as a result of COVID-19

 
Under the Restart Grant Plus scheme, support will also be provided for enterprises that could not access the original grant scheme, including rateable sports businesses and trading charity shops. Non-rated B&Bs will be eligible for a grant payment of €4,000.
 
Details about the Restart Grant Plus

• The grant will be based on the amount of the rates assessment for the premises for 2019 (excluding arrears) with a new minimum grant of €4,000 and a maximum grant of €25,000 (Increased from €2,000 min and €10,000 max).
• Eligible firms now include medium-sized firms and independent hotels with up to 250 employees, as well as small firms (increased from 50 employees).
• Businesses impacted by a 25% reduction in turnover will be eligible provided they commit to reopening and to hiring and sustaining employment.
• A turnover of up to €25m is now allowable, increased from €5m. There is a cap of €100,000 turnover per employee.
• Commercial sports businesses and trading charity shops in rated premises can now apply for the grant. 
• The hospitality sector, restaurants, pubs, activity centres and tourist attractions, for example, galleries, museums, are eligible if they are operating from a rated premise.
• B&Bs in non-rated premises will be eligible to apply for the minimum €4,000 grant from Fáilte Ireland. 
• A franchisee which is a financially independent company and is completely separate to the franchisor is eligible to apply.
• Small company chains can apply if they meet the criteria of <250 employees and €25m turnover in totality across the company and all the branches.
• Multinationals are not eligible. Small Irish based subsidiaries with overseas parent companies are not eligible.
• Large chains that are part of a large group company, that is, one legal entity with a number of branches, such as fast food, group and multiple supermarkets, group hotels, group betting shops and group pharmacies are not eligible.

 
 
Enterprise Support Grant
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/739f3-enterprise-support-grant-for-buisnesses-impacted-by-covid-19/#what-the-enterprise-support-grant-for-businesses-impacted-by-covid-19-is
The Enterprise Support Grant is available to assist eligible self-employed recipients who close their COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment on or after 18 May 2020. This will provide business owners with a once-off grant of up to €1,000 to restart their business which was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
How to qualify
The Grant will be awarded to self-employed people who:

• are tax and PRSI compliant
• are not liable for commercial rates
• have been in receipt of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and have closed their claim on or after 18 May 2020
• have reopened their business which was closed due to the pandemic
• employ less than 10 people
• have an annual turnover of less than €1 million
• are not eligible for the COVID-19 Business Restart Grant or similar COVID-19 business restart grants from other government departments
• can produce VAT receipts/invoices in respect of business restart costs and expenses claimed, if requested to do so by the department

 
Fionnán Nestor
Projects Officer, Wild Atlantic Way | Fáilte Ireland
Discover Ireland Centre, Bridge Street, Westport, Co. Mayo F28 NF77
T +353 (0)98 51502 | M +353 (0)86 048 1877 | www.failteireland.ie

We received the information from Fáilte Ireland, that the COVID-19 Adaptation Fund will be launched Tuesday 18th August 2020. 

Details are not availabe yet but will be posted here:
https://www.failteireland.ie/covid-19-adaptation-fund.aspx

Dear Members,

I am fully aware of the frustrations and concerns being felt by you. I have noted some of these concerns and would like to comment on them. Some members are looking to get back working as soon as possible and even earlier than the restrictions allow, so I take this opportunity to update you and ask you to be patient.

I have been working on the issue on getting our charter businesses up and running. At present we are restricted to do so, having regard to and abiding by the parameters laid down by the HSE and HPSC. These restrictions are governed by legislation and if we breach them, we could be fined or worse. Don't forget we are also licensed charter boats. I am thinking of the membership in general and I am also aware of the hardships that have befallen our members.  

To update you and to remind you, phase 2 will come into play on 8th June and I am aware at the moment that we are severely restricted to 5 km from home and not much better on 8th June when 20 km will be allowed.  

At the moment myself and Joe Lynch, our secretary, are drawing an SOP (standard operating procedure) document. This document, I believe will be demanded from us by the HSE should we wish to operate. The document will cover all the precautions we will take to abide by the guidelines laid down by the HSE asking them (the HSE) to take into account that we are operating a charter boat which we will have to address certain issues as to how we can best protect our passengers.This SOP document will cover all issues and hopefully help to get us back to work. I think it is important that we get the blessing form the Government to do so. I also think it is the proper way to go about it because other businesses have done the same. We need to show that the I.C.S.A. is a responsible organisation in abiding by the regulations laid down at this time.
I would hope before the 8th June to update you further and ask you to stand together on these important issues

Have faith, keep safe.

Regards, 

Donal Kennedy
Chairman ICSA

In the UK, I understand, compensation is being sought on the basis of a percentage of last year’s income / month. I believe that this option would not suit us for several reasons.

We don’t all publish accounts, (Mostly only done by those who operate as Limited Companies). Income Vs turnover is very different at this time of the year (Cost of setting up for the year, e.g. Liferafts, flares, servicing costs, painting, survey, launching etc.,) while tourists/angling numbers are still very low.

The €350 PW option is better for us, it’s in place now, we can avail of it whether or not we publish accounts, we are not trying to set up something unique to us, its income for right now at the hardest part of the season.

On membership, I believe there is plenty of scope for all skippers to join – It will/can remain PRIMARILY for sea angling skippers, and as for precedent, Butch Roberts, who is on the committee, is now a tourism skipper operating on the Skelligs trips.

I don’t understand the distinction, in any case, as some skippers do both, some also do survey work, whale watching etc., and mainly because “ A house divided against itself, cannot stand” (Abe Lincoln and the Bible -  Matthew 12:25) We need all the support we can get!

Funding for new Boats is just not going to happen this year, but it is an issue we addressed in the ICSA submission on the National Marine Planning Framework, and the age profile of current Skippers was also addressed, along with many of the current issues mentioned. (funding, fisheries development, and so on.)  For a copy of this submission click HERE.
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FLAG funding is an option, I believe, (though no one has applied yet, as far as I know), but available funds there will be severely stressed this year and next year, and will, in all likelihood, be prioritized for commercial fishing operations. We have members on most of the FLAG boards , who can be urged to push for this. The first one in will open that door for all.

On the green/white diesel problem, the only solution seems to be for all skippers to register for VAT, and reclaim the taxes. It’s just another business expense, after all.

Joe Lynch
​Secretary
The Irish Charter Skippers Association
4th April 2020

see this article also on our page 
​https://www.irishcharterskippersassociation.ie/covid-19.html

To All Charter Skippers :

The effect of the current health crisis on Charter Skippers is severe and ongoing, leading to the complete cessation of all our operations, until at least the 19th of April, when it will be reviewed. It could well last much longer than that, ruining the season for us all.

It will be difficult to earn sufficient to cover 2020 operating costs, let alone generate an income, in what will remain of the Summer Season.

The sole good news in this matter is that it would seem that Charter Skippers (self-employed) Operations having been shut down by the Government Regulations (as non essential, tourist/recreational, no groups larger than 4) business, we qualify for the Covid-19 unemployment payment of €350 per week.

When applying for this payment, please have your Charter Skippers Licence available, and quote your Licence number, along with your RSI number,  to establish your entitlement.

On an ongoing basis, the ICSA committee will continue to push for any and all assistance for Charter Skippers, who are facing economic disaster this year. Please follow our website for further details, as this crisis develops.

Good Luck and good health to you all for 2020.

Donal Kennedy
Chairman
The Irish Charter Skippers Association

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