Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Mulherin for raising this matter. I have discussed it with her on a previous occasion and I am aware, therefore, of its importance to her and to the people of Ballina. Her key question relates to what is going to happen with regard to the commitments that have been made in respect of the town. I intend to contact the chief executive of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, following this debate and arrange a meeting regarding all the issues the Deputy has raised. It is also my intention to attend that meeting, when it is held, in the company of the Deputy in order that we might obtain clarity in respect of the actual position.

IFI owns and operates a fish hatchery which is located in the centre of Cong, County Mayo. It is carrying out a review of hatchery operations generally with a view to rationalising its operations and improving their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The primary focus of the proposal is business efficiency centred on rationalisation of the hatchery function and examining the feasibility of using existing capacity at Cong to yield efficiencies and cost savings in line with the Government's reform agenda. In developing these plans for its core business, IFI is keenly aware of the established educational potential of the Cong hatchery. In that regard and as a small component of the operational review, IFI has examined the possibility of expanding the visitor capacity within the existing facilities at Cong to further develop the policy of allowing limited school tours and facilitating experience and promotion of the inland fisheries resources, specifically brown trout, the rare ferox trout unique to the Cong area, and salmon. The resource and angling can be promoted and experienced by the public on an IFI existing site in an established visitor town with relatively modest investment.

The existing hatchery in Cong has been in operation for many years. It was initially located in the old mill building and latterly its has operated as a rearing station. No significant material change is envisioned for scientific operational purposes for the site. It is expected that alterations may be required in terms of providing safe and suitable access, viewing and sanitary facilities, etc., for visitors. This is a working hatchery which is fully staffed and adjacent to some of the most prolific fisheries in the country, namely, the River Cong and the famous Lough Corrib, which is renowned for its wild brown trout fishing.

Cong is a vital link in the life cycle of the rare ferox trout, a separate species which originates in the waters around the town and which has existed in Lough Corrib since the ice ages. The value of promoting knowledge and understanding of this peerless species alone, on the back of a small investment in an overall business plan, is inestimable. IFI is also cognisant and supportive of the existing proposal for the development of a salmon life centre in Ballina. The feasibility study in respect of this proposed development was undertaken by Tourism Development International and was completed back in November 2008. IFI's commitment to Ballina is not in doubt and the importance of the River Moy to the salmon species and to inland fisheries is well recognised in the context of the investment by IFI of more than €1 million in the restoration and development of the iconic salmon weir in the centre of the town. I understand that this proposal was for a greenfield site and could be a very significant investment should the estimated €6 million to build the facility or, as the Deputy states, to make it shovel ready be secured. The salmon life centre would involve a joint development initiative which includes Mayo County Council, Ballina Town Council, IFI - in its role as the successor to the North Western Regional Fisheries Board - and Fáilte Ireland. The modest proposals for Cong in no way duplicate, replicate or usurp the much more involved and financially ambitious proposals relating to Ballina, which is famous for its salmon. Cong is famous for its unique and ancient species of trout.

I again emphasise that this is a relatively minor element in the IFI operational proposals, which are based on seeking value for public funds in respect of one of its principal functions as the State agency responsible for the protection, development and management of wild fisheries. The long-term viability of the existing facility in Cong - as a working facility - is a priority and its development for ancillary activity is a modest but worthwhile by-product of a drive towards economic rationalisation.

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. I am disappointed that IFI did not consider it necessary to discuss this proposition with the stakeholders in Ballina. There is a need to further tease out the issues, including those relating to costs. The headline in The Western People referred to plans to develop a €2 million interpretative centre, but IFI has not provided any details in respect of its plans. From what the Minister of State outlined, I accept there may just be a difference in scale in the context of the projects for Ballina and Cong. If improvements are needed at the facility in Cong, I welcome the fact they will be proceeded with, but the people of Ballina have invested a great deal of effort in respect of the salmon life centre project. As recently as last year, some of those involved with the project travelled to Norway to carry out research. We have both a site and planning permission and there is a need for IFI to engage with us to resolve the issues relating to Ballina. There was never any suggestion that IFI was going to be obliged to pay for the building of the centre in Ballina. The real issue relates to the management and running costs that will arise when the construction phase is completed. Such costs would obviously arise in respect of any project.

There are questions which remain unanswered and it might be better, as the Minister of State suggests, for these to be teased out further with IFI. I would welcome it if he would ensure the meeting he intends to arrange will involve input from all the stakeholders in order that we might get to the bottom of this matter once and for all. I would also welcome it if IFI renewed its commitment to Ballina and if some positive developments were forthcoming.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her comments. I will ensure that details on the costings relating to the design of the project at Cong will be made available to her as soon as possible. I will also ensure the proposed meeting will take place in the near future and that the stakeholders to whom she refers will be involved. I look forward to that meeting being held, hopefully in the next week or so.