asked the Minister for the Marine the action it is proposed to take in respect of the major development programmes which were submitted to his Department following on the meeting approximately a year ago between the managers and chairpersons of all the regional fisheries boards and an official of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fisheries Development Programmes.
15.
The development programmes prepared by each regional fisheries board and submitted to my Department were part of the general Government exercises to prepare a national programme for submission to Brussels in connection with our application for Structural Funds. My predecessor was concerned that development plans which would identify all possible areas for developing inland fisheries would be prepared at the earliest possible stage.
There was no commitment or guarantee at that stage of such a complex process that funding or particular amounts of funding would be available under the EC Structural Funds to finance these plans. I must compliment the regional fisheries boards and the Central Fisheries Board on the excellent standard of the development plans drawn up. They are a blueprint or reference to draw on for the future.
It emerged, however, that many of the projects contained in the plans were deemed ineligible for EC Structural Funding because they would involve recurring or operational-type costs, e.g. wages, extra staff, fisheries protection, hatcheries, stocking and re-stocking, etc. Revised plans were later invited for the development of tourism angling which are being processed under the operational programme for tourism, details of which are expected to be announced shortly by my colleague the Minister for Tourism and Transport.
The comprehensive development plans referred to earlier will be drawn on, on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the availability of funding from whatever source. I will obviously be using my best endeavours to maximise such funding.
Would the Minister agree that his description of this as a Government exercise is very apt? Would he acknowledge that he heightened expectations last year when he asked the fisheries boards to prepare specific plans? While it is understood that a small amount, £1.5 million over four years for the entire country, is being provided through Bord Fáilte for angling tourism projects, such moneys can only be expended on works such as access to fisheries. Will the Minister acknowledge that many of the areas he discounts such as stocking, restocking and conservation are vital components in the development of inland fisheries?
I agree they are vital components but the decision-makers in Europe decided that they were not projects that could demand support from the EC Structural Funds. That decision was not made here but in Europe. My predecessor asked the regional boards and the Central Fisheries Board to prepare a plan and they were perfectly entitled to make the strongest possible pitch for support from Europe. I made this point in answer to another question. If expectations were heightened, I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. The decision was made that these moneys were not available. A scheme has been made out which will be very useful for the development of fisheries anyway.
With regard to the specific tourism aspects of the question, a parliamentary question to another Minister would be in order. Some people from my Department are in consultation with the Department of Tourism and Transport with regard to the specific questions the Deputy mentions.
In negotiations which took place with the Commission regarding the aspects to be covered, was a strong case put forward for the inclusion of areas such as stocking, restocking, spawning, nursery grounds, hatcheries, etc. or was it only the access aspect that was emphasised?
I can strongly assure the Deputy that an attempt was made to get Structural Funds across the board for the type of development prepared by the individual regional boards and the Central Fisheries Board.
That must be the end of questions for today.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment the five-and-a-half hour delay on an overcrowded train from Sligo to Dublin last Sunday when no facilities were provided for passengers.
I will communicate with the Deputy.