Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, for taking this Topical Issue matter. My question relates to the status of the plans by Inland Fisheries Ireland for a fisheries-based salmon life centre in Ballina, County Mayo. In recent years, at the instigation of the North Western Regional Fisheries Board, one of the regional predecessors to Inland Fisheries Ireland, considerable taxpayers' money, staff time and resources were expended on plans to develop this project. Ballina is the ideal location for such a facility given its long history of salmon fishing, its reputation internationally as a major salmon angling centre and its official designation as salmon capital of Ireland.

The North Western Regional Fisheries Board commissioned a feasibility study for the visitor centre, which was carried out in 2008-2009 with the aid of funds provided by Fáilte Ireland, Ballina Town Council, Mayo County Council and the board itself, at a cost of some €50,000. The study found that the project had very good potential but did not come within the statutory remit of the fisheries board. It was considered more appropriate to have the town council lead the project, with technical input and support from the board. Following the abolition of the board in July 2010, Inland Fisheries Ireland took over all responsibilities, assets and liabilities of the board.

IFI consistently maintained its support for the Ballina project and was fully represented on the planning committee that was formed. In fact, a representative of IFI attended all meetings of the committee, together with representatives of Ballina Town Council, Mayo County Council, Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Marine Institute and the Mayo north tourism committee. In August 2012, a joint delegation from IFI and Mayo County Council travelled to Norway to view a number of salmon visitor centres there. Informed by this visit, the county council drew up plans for a visitor centre to be located on its site in Ballina adjacent to the arts centre and overlooking the refurbished weir at the Ridge Pool. The plans were completed and approved through the council's Part 8 planning permission process just before Christmas. Issues remain in regard to management and running costs but these can be resolved in due course.

Given the expenditure and resources committed thus far to the development of the Ballina project, it was with surprise that I read at the beginning of the week in my local newspaper, The Western People, of IFI's plans to develop a €2 million fisheries-based interpretative visitor centre at the Cong salmon hatchery in south Mayo. Despite the shovel-ready project in Ballina that is only awaiting funding, IFI has apparently appointed consultants to examine the feasibility of establishing another interpretative centre at Cong, which is only 50 miles away. This seems an incredible instance of duplication and a waste of taxpayers' money. If the Cong salmon hatchery requires refurbishment, then it certainly should be done. I have no problem with that.

The question does arise, however, as to the manner in which the board of management of IFI is operating. Is it within the statutory remit of IFI to develop such interpretative centres? The chairman, Brendan O'Mahony, who is from the Cong area, was formerly a member of the North Western Regional Fisheries Board and, as such, should have been very familiar with the Ballina project since its inception. What consultants have been appointed to the Cong project and what are their terms of reference? If the proposed centre at Cong proceeds, where will the €2 million in construction costs come from and who will cover the running costs? Why has Ballina Town Council not been consulted about the new plans?

With due respect to Cong, does the Minister of State consider it feasible to have two fisheries-based visitor centres not alone in the country but in one county? What is his view of the proposed further expenditure of public funds and resources? These questions must be answered in order to address the uncertainty surrounding the status of these projects. I urge IFI to retrieve the situation in the interests of fairness by publicly renewing its commitment to the Ballina salmon life centre and addressing outstanding issues of support, management and running costs with all the stakeholders who have already put so much into the project.

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