Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the information sought by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; the way the money being paid for salmon rod licences is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18678/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007, as part of a suite of conservation measures for the management of the wild salmon fishery, a salmon conservation component was applied to all commercial and salmon angling licences. A Ministerial Direction under Sections 18A, 19(4) and 20(3) of the Fisheries Act 1980, required the Central and regional fisheries boards to prepare and implement a programme for rehabilitation of salmon stocks, giving priority to rivers below their conservation limits; in special areas of conservation; and which have the greatest prospect of recovery; funded by the proceeds of the salmon conservation component of the salmon licence fees. This component represents 50% of the licence fee.

I understand that funds collected from this component of the sale of salmon licences in 2007, amounting to €513,000, were allocated to projects in 2008 based on agreed selection criteria. Works undertaken included catchment-wide electro-fishing, river bank protection, spawning grounds rehabilitation, in-stream works and habitat restoration, smolt rescue programmes etc.

Similarly, I am advised that funds collected from the sale of salmon licences in 2008, amounting to €898,085, have been allocated to projects in 2009. Details of the projects undertaken are published in the annual report and the website of the Central and regional fisheries boards. The full cost of an annual salmon angling licence for 2009 is €134, the same as in 2008.