Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 417: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in respect of the announcement in budget 2009 to merge the central and regional fisheries boards into a single national fisheries board the date by which this will be achieved; if this will require legislation; when the legislation will be published; the savings this merger will achieve in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the basis for those savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38407/08]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have set a target deadline of August 2009 for vesting day of the new national inland fisheries body, which will subsume the existing Central and regional fisheries boards. Amending primary legislation will be required to give effect to the new body. Work has commenced on drafting the scheme of the required Bill, which I would hope will be published early in 2009.

The most visible and immediate savings will occur as a result of the reduction in the costs of servicing eight separate boards and associated board expenses that are currently estimated to be in the region of €300,000 per annum. As the new body is not expected to be in place until later in 2009, there will be only partial savings in 2009 compared to 2010, which will be the first full year of the new body's operation. In addition to these financial savings, I anticipate that the new model will, over time, ensure through consolidation, the better use of existing resources and deliver improved value for money.