Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:282 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the person or body which has title, corporate and tidal ownership of the Caragh River, County Kerry. [17600/03]
Written Answers. - Inland Waterways.
The Deputy may recall from my predecessor's response to her previous question of 31 May 2000 that there are no primary records in my Department relating to the ownership of this fishery. The Deputy was informed, however, that my Department had, at that time, just received a report from the Central Fisheries Board regarding the ownership of the fishery and fishing rights on the Caragh River from Lough Caragh to the high water mark at Caragh Bridge.
This report, which was based on research carried out by the board's title research unit in connection with the tourism angling measure 1994 to 1999, concluded, from the information available, that Seefin Limited has good title to the northern or right bank from the outflow of the lake to the high water mark. However, the report concluded that ownership of the southern or left bank is not definitive. The report also concluded that the portion of the river from the high water mark to Dooghs townland would belong to the State unless evidence of a crown grant giving title to a private person is forthcoming.
I am advised that a subsequent report furnished by the title research unit in January 2002 on the Lower Caragh River and portion of Caragh Lake concluded that the rights to fish Caragh Lake and River including the estuary which Seefin Fisheries Limited purchased from KRD Fisheries Limited is good title and should be robust enough to withstand any legal challenge. While I would stress that these reports in themselves do not establish title, nevertheless my Department has no reason to doubt that Seefin Fisheries Limited hold good title to the area of fisheries involved.