Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will intervene in and review the unjust fishing permit system on the River Suck; if he will meet with a delegation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24100/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have already informed the House several times, under the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2001 the regional fisheries boards are empowered to apply a permit charge for angling on fisheries under their control and management. However, the application of such a permit charge is an operational matter solely for the relevant board to decide, in this instance the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, and is not an issue over which I as Minister of State have any function.

I am advised by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board that it has had a permit charge for trout angling for many years on fisheries that it controls and manages in the region. I understand that the fisheries board, in reviewing its management and the fees charged for its fisheries in 2002, decided to extend the permit charges to cover coarse angling on the board controlled fisheries on the basis that it was unfair to charge one angler to fish for one species while another angler fishing for a different species on the same water was not charged.

The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board assures me that the permit income is reinvested in the conservation and day-to-day management and development of these fisheries. In this regard, the board is actively promoting the region's fisheries abroad in partnership with tourist bodies and others relevant interested parties. However, the board advises me that while the Suck Valley Development Co-Operative Limited was invited to participate in this approach, it has so far declined to take part. As this is an operational matter for the board to determine, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene.