Michael Smith
Question:2 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine his policy and objectives for the development of our inland fisheries. [6698/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Inland Fisheries.
The overall policy objective for inland fisheries is to ensure that this valuable natural resource is conserved, managed and developed in its own right and to support sustainable economic activity and job creation based on that resource.
There is at present a number of strategic challenges to be faced arising not least from pressures on salmonid and coarse fish stocks and the freshwater environment. There are also major development opportunities presented by significantly increased EU funding.
Maintaining the strong rate of growth in angling tourism achieved in recent years will require further investment in the facilities available to anglers throughout the country. Under the tourism angling measure of the Operational Programme for Tourism, £19 million will be spent over the next five years on the regeneration of the inland fisheries resource. The programme is designed to ensure that coarse, game and sea angling is upgraded to the best international standards. We estimate that the strategy can generate long term sustainable employment of the order of 1,000 extra new jobs.
Deputies will be aware of the significant cross-Border dimension to inland fisheries where there is already very considerable co-operation between relevant Departments and fisheries organisations. That co-operation is set to continue and deepen with particular emphasis on realising the angling tourism potential in Border fisheries, notably the Foyle and Erne catchments. Planned investment under the second EU INTERREG programme will significantly assist that development.
In addition to ensuring that EU expenditure is efficiently applied and maximising cross-Border initiatives, current strategic initiatives for inland fisheries include: implementing a wide agenda for change in the Foyle Fisheries Commission; a comprehensive review of salmon management policy; continuing the programme to restore sea trout stocks; and addressing organisational and structural issues in the fisheries boards.
The latter initiative is encompassed in the major review of the organisational and management structure of the overall fisheries service we announced at the beginning of the month.
I can also advise Deputies that this year's funding to the fisheries boards by the Exchequer will amount to nearly £9 million, in addition to the EU funding being made available.
While it is probably true we underestimated the job potential of inland fisheries, angling tourism and tourism generally, when will the Minister be in a position to indicate which projects will be funded under the £19 million allocated from European Union funds for inland fisheries development?
There are at present 104 applications being considered for the 1995 portion of the allocation, which will amount to £2.85 million, by an evaluation monitoring committee comprised of representatives of the Central Fisheries Board, the Department of the Marine and Bord Fáilte. We expect their consideration will be completed within the next month to six weeks, when we will be in a position to make appropriate announcements about the relevant funding.
I am anxious that such decision be taken as soon as possible since quite a number of people in the angling world have been ploughing a lone furrow. This is the first opportunity within the terms of the National Development Plan 1994-99 and European Union funding for significant funds to be made available and, if they are to be of any help whatever this year, a decision must be taken very soon.
I appreciate that it is necessary to make decisions as quickly as possible to allow the sponsors of the projects to proceed with their planned work. Of those projects, slightly in excess of 60 are public sector ones, coming from the various fisheries boards and another 40 are private projects. I too am anxious that the evaluation work on those projects should be completed as quickly as possible. However, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate there is a large number of applications and it is important that they be properly and fully considered, ensuring that the best value is obtained for the considerable amount for money which will be spent on them.