John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators Dardis and O'Toole for speaking on this issue. I acknowledge its importance to those living in the Clahane area of County Kerry. Matters relating to the management and development of fisheries and angling facilities are not the responsibility of my Department, since they come under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and the various fisheries boards.

Regarding tourism, angling is Ireland's third-biggest special interest product, and it is particularly important since it provides essential tourism revenue to less-visited parts of the country. It also provides an especially high level of repeat business, some 59%, compared with an average of 39% for all holiday-makers, meaning that it is a less expensive segment to target while providing a valuable opportunity for positive, word of mouth promotion.

Overseas visitors engaged in angling in Ireland increased from 83,000 in 2003 to 93,000 in 2004, spending an estimated €65.8 million that year. The biggest increase came from Britain, whose numbers increased from 48,000 in 2003 to 58,000 in 2004. While the number of angling visitors has recovered dramatically, from 55,000 in 2002, they are still behind the peak figure of 173,000, recorded in 1999.

Fáilte Ireland, in co-operation with Tourism Ireland, is involved in marketing the angling product in our main visitor markets. To assess the market potential and ensure that the product offering is suitable to meet consumer demands, Fáilte Ireland, in consultation with industry stakeholders, is currently engaged in developing a new strategy for the angling product. The strategy development is nearing completion and will be ready in time to feed into the 2006 angling marketing plans. The new strategy will segment the overseas market better, allowing for more targeted campaigns, highlighting quality angling to consumers that will result in actual bookings.

I am aware of the considerable local interest in acquiring the Owenmore fishery and was pleased to take up the matter on behalf of residents with the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher. I was disappointed to learn that neither funding nor a grant scheme is available from which either the Department or the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board could consider providing assistance towards purchase of the fishery. The South-Western Regional Fisheries Board is available to provide advice to anyone developing the fishery, including specific fishing beats in the region.

However, I have been informed by my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, that, while it is not his Department's policy to make such acquisitions, he understands from Údarás na Gaeltachta that, following representations from the local community and co-operative society, Comharchumann Forbartha an Leith-Triúigh has been invited to submit any development plans that it may have for the Owenmore fishery to an tÚdarás. An tÚdarás has also agreed to provide assistance to enable the preparation of a business plan regarding the purchase and development of the fishery and the sourcing of investment for such a purchase.