Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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487. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of revenue brought in each of the years 2014 to 2017 from the midlands permit for the old Shannon region; the number of areas obliged to pay a permit fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3306/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The fisheries referred to by the Deputy are in the ownership of the ESB and are defined as private fisheries.A formal agreement was entered into by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to manage 17 of the ESB’s fisheries in the Midlands.  This agreement included an arrangement for IFI to use the permit fees, due to ESB as fishery owners, from these fisheries to fund the management costs which are additional to IFI’s costs for managing State owned fisheries.  ESB charge similar fees for the Lower Shannon and Mulkear fisheries.

The practice of charging permit fees is long established and angling clubs that licence a fishery from the State may also charge a permit for anglers who are not a member of the club.  

It is important to note that a significant portion of the permit revenue collected by IFI is redistributed into the catchments by way of the Midlands Fisheries Fund, which provides funding to angling clubs, community groups etc., to enhance those fisheries.  

Annual permit fees amount to 86c per week for adults, 48c per week for senior citizens and 38c per week for juveniles. Permits for shorter periods are also available.  On average, permit fees account for an annual income of €120,000 and the cost to IFI to protect, develop, manage and conserve these fisheries is considerably in excess of this.  

The revenue and redistribution of funds under the Midland Fisheries Fund in the years 2014-2017 is set out below. 

Permit Revenue and Redistributed Fund to Angling Clubs/Groups