Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 1

Written Answers. - Fisheries Funding.

Bernard Allen

Question:

30 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the expenditure incurred on sea salmon catchment management in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and the expenditure budgeted for 2001; the results of this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23413/01]

Michael Bell

Question:

35 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will set out the programme for 2001 for the spending and allocation of the £2 million as indicated by the Central Fisheries Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20970/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 35 together.

Since the establishment of six pilot projects in late 1997 substantial funding has been made available to support catchment management projects as an important component in the management of key salmon rivers. New catchment management projects continue to be planned and initiated in each fisheries region while promotion of existing projects is ongoing. The position regarding expenditure on catchment management since 1998 is as follows: in 1998, £5000 was spent by the South-Western Fisheries Board on the development of the River Laune catchment management project. In 1999 £130,000 was made available to support the six pilot catchment management projects on the Vartry – County Wicklow – the Barrow, the Mulkear, the Laune, the Moy and the south Donegal catchment – Drouse-Lough Melvin-Pettigo.

In 2000 I allocated funding to the fisheries boards of almost £2 million for the promotion of catchment management for a range of projects. A sum of £1.48 million was spent in the regions on a partnership basis between the fisheries boards and angling community interests on a range of individual projects throughout the country. In addition, £369,000 was invested by the fisheries boards collectively to support the provision of geographical information systems which are essential tools for fisheries management and on a sustained public awareness campaign to promote greater stakeholder understanding and participation in catchment management. Based on the experience of the pilot projects the fisheries boards initiated a number of additional projects, including Blackwater, the Bandon and the Ballinahinch catchment in Galway.

This year to date I have allocated £1.5 million to support catchment management projects throughout the country. Of this funding, £800,000 has been allocated to central and regional fisheries boards, in respect of: the development of geographical information systems for fisheries management, the provision of technical assistance for catchment management projects regionally, and support for facilitation, consensus building, training and public awareness of catchment management.

In addition, £700,000 has been allocated to individual catchment management projects throughout the country which are being undertaken on a partnership basis between the regional fisheries boards and local interests. The projects will promote the development of angling and catchment management throughout the country and include educational programmes, stream rehabilitation and restocking, river fencing, the provision of hatcheries, and the provision of facilities for the disabled.
I am currently considering further proposals to fund additional projects throughout the fisheries regions.
Top
Share