Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is proposed that private companies or community interests might take over the management and operating of angling development and management of inland waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39741/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the central and regional fisheries boards.

As the Deputy will be aware, proposals adopted by Government in relation to the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector provide for the restructuring of the executive functions of the central and regional fisheries boards to be subsumed into a new National Inland Fisheries Authority. The Government also decided that the consultants who undertook the initial review of the Inland fisheries sector should be re-engaged in 2006 to identify in more detail the structures, resources, funding and policy approaches needed to implement the further restructuring of the sector. This process will involve full, transparent, comprehensive and patient consultations with all of the stakeholders during which the principles and structures to deliver the new model will be fleshed out.

I do not envisage that any changes will be implemented pending completion of Stage II of the Review, which will take several months.