Vol. 420 No. 1
28 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the way in which he expects angling to develop as an attraction having regard to legislation pertaining to fishing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Angling for trout and coarse fish has now been put on a new development footing with the recent establishment of 8 Cooperative Development Societies. The thinking behind the establishment of these societies is to provide anglers and their clubs and everyone else involved in any way in angling an opportunity to contribute to the development of the angling amenity and to have a say in how the development funds so raised are spent to best effect. I have every confidence that substantial extra funds for development will be raised in this way which will enable many new development projects to be undertaken.
My Department will of course continue to make development funds available to Regional Fisheries Boards as part of its normal financing operation in relation to the boards and will also be making funds available to match moneys raised by the societies in the start-up phase.
I should point out to the Deputy that licences are no longer required to fish for trout or coarse fish.
