My Department is actively involved in promoting leisure activities, including fishing along the canals. In August, local anglers requested my Department to provide fish swims from Newcomen Bridge to Russell Street Bridge, as they planned to hold a fishing competition on 17 August.
My Department is pleased to facilitate events such as this, which were also recommended by the Royal Canal Corridor Study. Accordingly, arrangements were made for sections of the reed fringe along the canal bank to be cut back to provide fishermen with the opportunity to attract fish close to the canal bank. Indeed, it is planned to have further discussions with local angling interests with a view to fostering and promoting fishing in this area.