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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Boyne Valley Plan.

John Bruton

Ceist:

143 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide a detailed report on his Department's involvement in the Boyne Valley integration development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12672/00]

My Department is fully supportive of objectives contained in the Boyne Valley integrated development plan involving as it does the co-ordinated and integrated management of the development of tourism, heritage and amenity in the Boyne Valley.

The fisheries interest in the plan is represented by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board which is an active participant on the management committee which is overseeing the implementation of the plan. The eastern board informs me that it devotes to the river Boyne catchment 25% of its total budget of £300,000 for the improvement and protection of fisheries within its fisheries region. The board also employs a Boyne fishery manager who has the function of promoting the river Boyne as a fishery and the valley as a tourist destination. Included in the specific measures which have been adopted by the eastern board are the production of a river Boyne valley fishery brochure in a number of European languages and the operation, in co-operation with local angling interests, of a one stop shop system for the issue of fishing permits to visiting anglers.

In addition to the above, under the tourism angling measure for the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, a total of £202,680, of which £140,516 is European Regional Development Fund funds, was allocated to five public sector projects in the river Boyne catchment. Furthermore, under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 a total of £7 million has been allocated to recreational and tourism angling in the southern and eastern regions, and the detailed arrangements for the expenditure of this funding will be finalised for approval by the European Commission in the coming months.

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