Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 21 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Inland Fisheries.

The Corrib system is the most important lake system in Ireland and comprises Loughs Carra, Mask and Corrib. Of the approximately 13 wild brown trout fisheries left internationally this is the most important. Under the tourism angling measure of the last tranche of European funding, moneys were committed for the restoration and redevelopment of this important international fishery, its spawning beds and tributaries.

It is almost a year since I raised this matter and the work carried out to date has been substantial and worthwhile. Fifty kilometres of low quality production waterways for restoration as habitats for trout spawning and nursery productions were put in place, a major scheme of placing stone and timber deflectors in the spawning streams was undertaken, pools with suitable habitats for juvenile and adult trout were constructed, riffle sections with head and tail pools large enough to hold spawning and juvenile trout were created, thousands of tonnes of suitable gravel were placed in selected areas to facilitate more spawning, overhead bank protection was put in place and 54 kilometres of waterway were fenced off to prevent cattle entering the river, trampling the bank and causing serious pollution.

The previous Government allocated £1 million to this under the tourism angling measure. The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Woods, allocated two subventions of £220,000 and £650,000 for the plan. Last October, the Western Regional Fisheries Board submitted a claim of £1.8 million for expenditure for 1999. No response has been received to date. The international consultant who reported on the validity of the works to date and who reanalysed the cost of finishing the job at about £5 million said it would be pointless wasting money on smaller schemes without completing this major flagship project. He complimented those involved – the Department, the workmen, the fisheries board, etc.

How much money decommitted under the tourism angling measure is available, and can it and other funds be directed towards this project for the remainder of 1999? I understand the new tranche of funds will not become available until 1 January 2000. Those involved in the fishing business expect expenditure of around £5 million over three years, but that is unrealistic. However, it would be realistic over five years.

I would like the Minister and the Minister of State to ensure this project is completed and the great western lakes, the largest freshwater body for wild brown trout in the world, are restored and preserved. The money spent in good faith and the good work carried out should not go to waste. The area has considerable marketing potential internationally. Bord Fáilte, individual operators, hotels and fishing people have a unique and wonderful facility to promote internationally. It affects the region in terms of the improvement of its economy because it is located in the heart of the 13 counties deemed eligible for Objective One status by Europe. It is an important element in creating an initiative for local people, boatmen, gillies, housewives, bed and breakfasts and fishing people, and for the enjoyment of those from home and abroad who avail of this wonderful facility.

Will the Minister of State confirm the Department is serious about completing this major project? Will he outline how much is left of the funds decommitted under the tourism angling measure? Will he indicate if there will be a new revised development plan which will allocate £1 million a year for the next five years from 2000?

I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the western lakes project and on overall progress under the tourism angling measure to develop the inland fisheries resource.

The western lakes project is one of the flagship projects receiving support under the tourism angling measure. The objective is to restore and develop the prime brown trout fisheries of Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra, thus attracting more tourist anglers to the western region. The lakes cover a very wide geographical area and this development project has focused on improving components of the Corrib system on an incremental and prioritised basis.

Deputy Kenny asked me if we are serious about this project. We are so serious about it that we have provided funding of £2 million out of £17 million. There are 170 projects on hand. That is a clear indication that we believe it is an area that deserves such funding. It represents 12 per cent of total funding available to tourism angling projects over the entire period of the measure, which is a significant allocation for any single project. I believe the Deputy accepts that.

The House will appreciate that project funding under any operational programme cannot be open ended. The western lakes project is coming to the end of the present development programme for which available funding was approved. This applies equally to a number of other development works under the tourism angling measure and I would like to set present and future funding options in context for the House.

The objective of the tourism angling measure, which is a component of the operational programme for tourism, is to develop the national angling product to best international standards and to significantly increase the number of tourist anglers visiting the country. Angling has particular benefits from the tourism perspective as a year round activity often in non-traditional tourism locations, delivering significant local economic return as well as contributing to the tourism sector overall.

I stress again that the main flagship developments under the measure have been in the west, especially in the western lakes and the Moy development programme. More than £17 million is being invested with significant EU support under the tourism angling measure up to the end of 1999. This is the largest investment ever made in inland fisheries development here. The fundamental criteria are that the fisheries are capable of attracting additional foreign visitors, are readily available for tourist use and demonstrably deliver economic benefit and additional employment in the regions concerned.

More than 170 projects have been approved to date and are already making a significant contribution in terms of enhancing the fisheries resource and adding to year round tourism facilities around the country. This investment of £405,000, is also being supported by a specific marketing initiative this year to promote Irish angling abroad. It is being administered and led by the Central Fisheries Board and Bord Fáilte. The markets initiative involves production of national angling brochures and posters targeted at potential customers, a programme of journalist and trade visits to promote the Irish product and the investigation of new market opportunities, notably in the US and in Scandinavia.

The House will appreciate the need to ensure that the overall benefits of the investment under the tourism angling measure are maximised through well planned and well spread investment throughout the country. The aim is to deliver game, coarse and sea angling projects with a balanced regional spread and a good mix of public, private and community projects.

In addition to the flagship projects, such as the western lakes, we must not overlook the value for money achieved through investment in a wide range of small projects where local fisheries facilities can be upgraded at a comparatively small cost by angling clubs, fisheries owners and local community groups as well as the regional fisheries boards.

The amount of moneys that have been decommitted or that have not been used under the measure are very small, which is a compliment to the western lakes development and others. That money is in a kitty at present and is being considered for the Deputy's project and many others. I compliment the Deputy for raising this matter and for the sincerity with which he presented his case.

Barr
Roinn