Dr. Ciaran Byrne:

I thank Senator Leyden for his kind comments and his hospitality when we were in Castlecoote, which we very much appreciate. The project to which he refers is both worthwhile and excellent. He is correct that we have discussed this matter quite a few times. It would be beneficial to note as the other members may not be aware that there is a permit scheme in the upper Shannon area. Every year, the Central Fisheries Board, followed by IFI and the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, manage that on behalf of the ESB. These are State-owned waters for which the ESB is responsible. The permit is to allay in some way the cost of managing the upper Shannon. The permit generated for IFI in the region of €120,000 per annum over the last five years. The average between 2013 and 2017 was €118,000 so rounding it up gives €120,000. We provide approximately €50,000 per year to the midlands fisheries fund. In the Roscommon area, the upper Shannon generated a permit revenue of approximately €51,000 over that period yet we put back almost €56,000 in the midlands fisheries fund. The latter, which constitutes more or less half or perhaps 40% of the permit fee, we give out to clubs and groups to do the works like those the Senator referred to at Stoneham's Lake. Over that period, we disbursed approximately €240,000 and of that funding, 24% went to the Roscommon area. I take the Deputy's point that his area is slightly different to that of the people down the road but we are managing the upper Shannon on behalf of the ESB. It costs in the region of €700,000 to manage the upper Shannon and we are generating €120,000 back for it. I accept that anglers say that the €45 fee is considerable but one should look at it in the context of other recreational activities. That sum would just about pay for one round of golf on a Saturday in July. That is the level of fee we are talking about. It goes back to some extent to the issue to which the Chairman referred, namely, the upkeep of the resource. We are working in a resource-limited environment. The Senator's is the only area in this context which pays a permit and our view is that we should probably have a slightly different pitch, namely, that everyone should pay for permits or make some contribution to the upkeep of the resource. It is an asset and it requires investment.