Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason an application (details supplied) was not successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7892/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The consideration of project applications under the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) is a day to day operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

However, I am advised by IFI that all applications under NSAD are evaluated rigorously, as follows. A quality check is performed to ensure all required support documentation is in place. An environmental check is carried out to ensure projects comply with legislative (environmental, planning etc.) requirements. The local IFI management and staff review the project proposals to ensure that it represents a priority within the region and can be supported from a supervisory perspective.

With regard to the application referred to by the Deputy, I understand from IFI that a number of items were highlighted at this stage of the assessment including access, planning and environmental requirements for the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where the proposals were to be located and existing infrastructure.

Full panel evaluation then takes place to score the project. This ensures the project meets established and published criteria for, and the objectives, of the funding scheme, addresses a need as identified, confirms that matching funding is available, that it will be done in a partnership approach and previous funding received. This project scored poorly at full panel evaluation.

Finally the NSAD Implementation Group, established within IFI and made up of IFI Heads of Function, review the recommendations and sign off.

An email was sent to the applicant on announcement of the fund in December and a letter posted to their online portal immediately following the decision to advise of the outcome of the application.

IFI would be happy to discuss the project with the applicants should they wish to contact IFI.