John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister of State explain the higher priority tourism issues given that a reduced financial allocation of €1 million was agreed at the Estimates meeting last week? He indicated clearly that was in line with the Farrell Grant Sparks report on inland fisheries. In 1999, 54,000 anglers came to Ireland while the number has now reduced to 20,000. The State can allocate only €1 million to tourism angling for 2006-07 yet €30 million which was ring-fenced for the BMW region was diverted to higher priority tourism projects. What could be more important than tourism angling?

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