Co-op (Trout and Coarse Fisheries Development) Funds

On the formation of Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI), the Coarse and Trout Fisheries Development Societies (known as Co-ops) were abolished and funds remaining in these bodies were transferred to Inland Fisheries Ireland. These funds are anglers funds and not from exchequer sources. IFI have developed a scheme to redistribute the available funds to the areas (old Regional Fisheries Board areas) from which the funds originated. The scheme will be known as the Co-op Trout and Coarse Fisheries Development  Funds or Co-op Funds.

It was envisaged that all projects would be completed and funds disbursed during 2014.

The available funds were as follows:

Region All Project Types € Non-instream works only €
Southern 138945.30  
Upper Shannon   4494.22
Eastern   2212.55
Northern   367.53
Western   2773.75
North- Western 13151.57  

No funds were remitted by the South Western  Co-op. The Lower Shannon Co-ops remitted 95c. 

Background to the scheme, criteria for application etc

IFI invites applications to the Co-op Fund from anglers, angling clubs, federations and fisheries owners  for projects under the following headings having regard to the classification of All Projects types and Non-Instream Projects above:

  • Development of access and other infrastructure for angling (including disabled access).
  • Development of the angling product in agreement with IFI Business Development Division.
  • Development that focuses on providing facilities for those engaged in angling.
  • Training that develops and enhances angling capacity.
  • Development of competition venues for trout and coarse angling.
  • Fish passage improvement. (E.g. removal of barriers, modification of weirs, and construction of fish passes etc)
  • Spawning enhancement (addition/raking of gravel or cleaning of existing substrates)
  • Instream structures (weirs, deflectors, rubble mats, random boulders etc.)
  • River Bank protection (rock armour, log revetment etc.)
  • Fencing (protection of river banks including fences, stiles, cattle drinks etc.)
  • Riparian zone improvement (tree pruning and strategic tree planting)
  • Removal & control of exotic invasive species (e.g. Rhododendron, Japanese knotweed, Asian Clam, Chub etc.)

Closing date for receipt of applications is April 25th, 2014

CRITERIA

IFI reserves the right to allocate funding at its absolute discretion to meet its priority of sustainable development of trout and coarse fisheries and angling.
It is envisaged that one project will be approved for each of the Upper Shannon, Eastern, Northern and Western Regions due to the limited nature of the funds available and the administration involved.

IFI will assess project proposals, score them and then prioritise the proposals (based on scoring). Funding will be allocated on the basis of that prioritisation exercise.
Application is solely by submission of the official application form by email or postal delivery or hand delivery to IFI Swords – see details below.

Project scoring criteria will include (but not be limited to) the following:

  • Projects must have a good potential to clearly benefit fisheries and/or angling .
  • Projects must have a definite focus on tourism angling or fisheries development that will ultimately improve the tourism potential.
  • Projects shall not  have commenced before issue of Letter of Offer.
  • No more than two applications per applicant will be considered, however where large projects are being considered, phasing of applications is advised. Applicants should provide an overview for the entire project.
  • Funding by area will not exceed the available funds.
  • Funding may be at a level of up to 100% of total expenditure, however IFI prefers projects where there is a match fund element provided by the applicant. 25% is the recommended level of match funding, allowing the Co-op Fund  to provide 75% of the project costs.
  • Sustainable development must be evident. (Ongoing post project maintenance plans)
  • Potential economic impact must be outlined as part of the application.
  • Projects that are part of a larger community or tourism project must be noted as such and supporting documentation provided.
  • Projects must be completed by September 30th, 2014.

Guidelines for a successful application

  • Please liaise with local IFI staff to ensure the project application is complete and conforms to the requirement of the scheme. Projects must be approved by the appropriate IFI RBD Director  before submission to  IFI Swords for further processing/evaluation.
  • Project applications should be sent to the appropriate RBD Director that has responsibility for the area in IFI. For example, projects for the Munster Blackwater are the responsibility of IFI Macroom and the Slaney is the responsibility of IFI Clonmel.
  • Supporting information must be submitted along with official application form i.e. maps, GPS coordinates, scientific recommendations, landowner agreements, NPWS approvals if required etc.;
  • Applicants must provide evidence of interest/ownership/title to fishery.
  • Applicants must supply a valid tax clearance certificate, VAT or PPS number as appropriate.
  • Applicants must supply the Constitution or Memo and Articles of Association of their club or association and audited accounts of the organisation.
  • Inland Fisheries Ireland reserves the right to refuse any application.
  • IFI will monitor the project and payment of grant awarded will be on receipt of a final report from the monitoring IFI staff member and completed claim paperwork  from the club.
  • Grant funding shall be for capital projects. Labour/mileage in the form of own resources does not qualify for project expenditure but labour may be used as match funding. Contracted labour (from registered C2 contractors) will qualify as eligible expenditure.
  • The purchase of machinery/equipment shall not be funded (e.g. Mini-diggers, chainsaws, strimmers etc.) except in exceptional circumstances, in which case must be agreed in advance with IFI Business Development Division (the Co-op Fund Co-ordinator).
  • Project proposals shall be inspected and evaluated by Inland Fisheries Ireland prior to granting of any fund.
  • 3 Quotations are required for all proposed expenditure of €500 and above.
  • Statutory and Landowner approvals to accompany application – e.g. Planning permission, OPW, NPWS etc. as appropriate. If your proposed project is situated within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) you will require permissions from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) prior to any works been undertaken. If you are unsure check with your local NPWS office. http://www.npws.ie/media/npws/images/Contact_numbers.pdf
  • Projects are financed by the club who will be reimbursed following completion of the project and provision to IFI of the required paperwork.

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