Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 1

Written Answers. - Inland Fisheries.

Michael Ring

Question:

71 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources to ascertain from the Western Fisheries Board the up to date position with the part-time employees on the Robe River; if the part-time employees will be re-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13140/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The western lakes development project, of which the River Robe is a part, has been receiving funding under the tourism angling measure, TAM, of the operational programme for tourism 1994-99, to rehabilitate the Corrib, Mask and Cara Lakes as prime brown trout fisheries for tourism angling. The project has received approval for three phases of funding, totalling investment of over £2 million, which is nearly 12 per cent of the total funding available under the tourism angling measure.

As with all such projects, contract staff are employed on a project-specific basis. The staff taken on by the Western Regional Fisheries Board for the western lakes project, including those on the Robe, are employed for the duration of the project.

I understand that an application has been submitted under TAM for a further £1.8 million for the western lakes project. This will be considered along with other applications by the TAM man agement committee. Almost all available funding under the TAM has been committed at this stage. The extent to which the western lakes project or other projects might receive funding this year depends on the level of any funding decommitted before end 1999.