Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2004
130 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to review the cost of a drift net salmon licence, which costs €320 in 2004, on hardship grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15990/04]
View answerPrior to this year, the commercial salmon fishing licence duties were last increased in 1988. The licence fee increases introduced by my Department for 2004 are to allow for inflation since they were last increased and to contribute to the revenues of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards who are statutorily responsible for the conservation, management and development of inland fisheries in the State. The increase is consistent with the recommendations of the independent Estimates review committee on the 2003 Estimates for my Department, which concluded that it would be appropriate to increase charges in such cases.
When introducing similar increases for salmon rod licences in 2003, I gave an undertaking that comparable increases would be applied to commercial fishing licences and that in future increases for all licence fees would be applied in line with the consumer price index on an annual basis. The increases now introduced mean that all licence duties in respect of inland fisheries have been set for 2004 in a fair and equitable manner. The proceeds from the increases will add to the regional fisheries boards' ability to maintain services, in addition to Exchequer grants in 2004. This additional revenue will be re-invested by the boards in the ongoing management and development of the inland fisheries resource.
