Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
174. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fisheries assessment of the River Liffey, County Kildare prepared by a company for an organisation (details supplied) and the heritage section of Kildare County Council and its findings in respect of the decrease of fish stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11423/22]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the statutory body responsible for the protection, conservation and development of the inland fisheries resource. IFI is supported in its role by the Technical Expert Group On Salmon (TEGOS) which carries out annual scientific assessments on each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon stocks, including the Liffey. I am advised by IFI that despite ecological pressures, the river Liffey remains one of only a handful of rivers in European Capitals through which a self-sustaining population of Atlantic salmon actively migrate. IFI have also advised that they initiated a large scale River Liffey Catchment fish population survey during Summer 2021 mobilising a cross-agency response to concerns expressed by local angling groups. IFI are currently analysing these data for compilation in a report which will be publicly available during 2022. A review of the the report referred to by the Deputy - ‘Fisheries Assessment of the River Liffey, County Kildare (December 2021)’ - is underway at IFI.
Reviewing both sets of data is an operational matter for IFI and I and my Department have no role in this matter. IFI have established a dedicated e-mail address: oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie where direct queries may be made by members of the Oireachtas.
