asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will arrange for the large scale re-stocking of rivers and lakes in the Republic with a view to providing a valuable food for Irish people and also encouraging more tourists to come to this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Re-stocking of Rivers.
91.
I am satisfied that for the great majority of fishing waters in this country natural propagation of selected species of the existing fish stocks is the most effective way of raising the productivity of the fisheries. Encouragement is given, by grants, to responsible organisations for improvement of the condition for natural propagation by control of predators and improvement of spawning areas. I have also ensured that adequate hatchery facilities are available for the purpose of re-stocking waters for which the natural spawning areas have proved insufficient or which may suffer a setback in stocks for one reason or another.
Will the Minister not agree that much more activity could be undertaken if extra money were made available to the Inland Fisheries Trust?
That is so. The extent to which the Inland Fisheries Trust can conduct their very desirable activities is determined by the amount of money made available to them. The amount of money made available to them from the Exchequer has increased very considerably in recent years. What is now necessary is to attract more anglers and people interested in fishing to become members of the Inland Fisheries Trust and increase their funds in that way.