Written answers
Friday, 16 September 2016
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Sports Organisations
Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1639. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of angling clubs here; the number of members each have; their location; the initiatives in place to support anglers, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25132/16]
Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The membership of individual clubs is a matter for the clubs themselves and there is no obligation on clubs to register their membership details with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Consequently, IFI do not have access to membership details and are not in a position to provide information relating to membership for each individual club. However, IFI is aware, from the database it does maintain, that there are some 501 angling clubs nationally. Details by county are shown in Table A.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) commissioned Tourism Development International (TDI) to undertake a Socio Economic Study of Recreational Angling in Ireland. This study is the most comprehensive study of the recreational angling sector in Ireland ever undertaken. It was published in 2013 and has since been reviewed and updated. The study suggested that 69% of Irish anglers are members of an angling club. Based on an estimated population of 273,600 anglers aged 15+ resident in Ireland the figure for angling club members would be in the region of 189,000.
IFI initiatives in place to support anglers are set out in Table B.
TABLE A
| County | No: of Angling Clubs/Associations | County | No: of Angling Clubs/Associations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co. Carlow | 6 | Co. Louth | 22 |
| Co. Cavan | 28 | Co. Mayo | 38 |
| Co. Clare | 13 | Co. Meath | 33 |
| Co. Cork | 42 | Co. Monaghan | 12 |
| Co. Donegal | 26 | Co. Offaly | 11 |
| Co. Dublin | 60 | Co. Roscommon | 16 |
| Co. Galway | 36 | Co. Sligo | 7 |
| Co. Kerry | 16 | Co. Tipperary | 17 |
| Co. Kildare | 12 | Co. Waterford | 4 |
| Co. Kilkenny | 14 | Co. Westmeath | 21 |
| Co. Laois | 6 | Co. Wexford | 22 |
| Co. Leitrim | 11 | Co. Wicklow | 13 |
| Co. Limerick | 12 | ||
| Co. Longford | 3 | Total | 501 |
TABLE B
| Something Fishy | An education resource produced by Inland Fisheries Ireland in conjunction with Blackrock Education Centre and aimed at fifth and sixth classes in Primary School. |
|---|---|
| Fisheries Awareness Week | Aims are to encourage adults and children alike who may never have fished before to take up a new hobby. |
| Initiative | Description |
| National Strategy for Angling Development | A comprehensive national framework for the development of our angling resource. The strategy will deliver a wide-ranging set of investments, innovations and promotions over the coming five years. |
| The Midland Fisheries Fund | A sustainable development fund created through angler contributions set-a-side from the Permit Income received by IFI in the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area. |
| The Salmon Conservation Fund | Salmon Conservation Funds are generated from the sale of salmon fishing licences and are reinvested to promote the recovery of our salmon stocks and habitats. |
| IFI Sponsorship Scheme | IFI may provide support to groups, associations, clubs or other appropriate bodies to assist with Events which meet the aims of the IFI Sponsorship Programme. |
| The Dublin Angling Initiative | An initiative to take young people from National and Secondary schools, summer projects and youth services throughout Dublin and its suburbs on fishing courses. |
| Angling For Youth Development Ireland | An outreach unit and programme which will have positive benefits for angling in Ireland and for local communities |
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