asked the Minister for Fisheries if he will now state when the existing lease for eel fisheries on the Shannon will terminate, and when advertisements will appear inviting new tenders for same, and if, in order to give a fillip to local enterprise, the eel fisheries situated in Athlone will be let separately.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LEASE OF SHANNON FISHERIES.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
This question should have been addressed to the Minister for Finance.
forFINANCE (Mr. Blythe): The lease of the eel fisheries will expire on the 1st February, 1926.
As it is not known what effect the Shannon Electricity scheme will have on the fisheries, it is not proposed to make a new lease at present. It is intended to continue the letting to the present tenant from year to year on the terms of the existing lease.
Until the situation becomes clearer, it will not be practicable to let any part of the eel fisheries separately.
Is it fair to the people of Athlone to make this letting without inviting tenders? You are giving a monopoly to one particular individual. I would ask the Minister to say whether he would think it advisable to advertise the contract when the present letting expires, as there are a good number of people who want fish for consumption at home and not to be shipped across to Germany.
The fisheries were let on lease of 21 years which expires in February next, and it is thought the best thing to do for the present, at all events, is to continue the letting to the present holder on a year to year basis.