Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the concerns expressed by a club (details supplied). [15999/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise that a reply issued on the 26 April 2006 to the letter referred to by the Deputy.

The matter to which the Deputy refers is that of the Government's policy for the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector, which is based on the recommendations contained within the report by Farrell Grant Sparks following their review of the sector, published last November. The Government has decided that a fundamental restructuring of the sector is required. It considered that this reform would result in a better model for the State's role in the sector, better resource management, more and better involvement of stakeholders, better corporate governance and value for money.

Under this policy the executive functions of the existing Central and regional fisheries boards will be subsumed into a single national inland fisheries authority (NIFA). The existing regional fisheries boards will be transformed into regional advisory boards, relieved of the burden of direct corporate responsibilities, which will allow members to concentrate on regional issues and the carrying through of reforms.

It is my firm belief that contrary to the concerns expressed by the club referred to by the Deputy, the policy adopted by Government will allow the sector to reach its full potential through more coherent and consistent policy making and resource allocation and will give the whole range of stakeholders the opportunity to be influential in the conservation, protection, development and promotion of the inland fisheries resources.