Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of salmon rod licenses sold nationwide in 2005 to 2010, inclusive; the amount of revenue raised in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33393/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am advised that details of the sale of all rod licences are appended to the annual report published by Inland Fisheries Ireland (and previously the Central and regional fisheries boards), which is available on its website. The following table provides the number of rod licences sold from 2005 to 2010 and the revenue raised from those sales.

I understand that in 2007, as part of a suite of conservation measures for the management of the wild salmon fishery following closure of the mixed stock fisheries at sea, a salmon conservation component was applied to all licence fees. This component was set at the same rate as the licence fee and effectively doubled the cost of the licence to the beneficiaries of the fishery closure.

Income generated from that component, under Ministerial direction, is specifically dedicated by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to the rehabilitation of salmon habitats and stocks and associated conservation measures throughout the country.

I am advised that all of the proceeds of the licence fee income are reinvested, by IFI, in the conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource.