€50,000 in Funding Announced for Angling Development in Midlands

PRESS RELEASE 13th August, 2014

Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Joe McHugh TD, has today (13.08.14) announced that angling clubs and organisations in the Midlands are set to benefit from the €50,000 Midland Fisheries Fund (MFF), introduced by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) earlier this year.

Following on the success of last year’s pilot scheme, Inland Fisheries Ireland decided to continue the scheme through which angling clubs and organisations can access funding to undertake sustainable development works. The fund has been created through angler contributions set-a-side from the Permit Income received by the IFI in the Midland Fisheries Group permit area.
Applications were received from various clubs and organisations in June this year in the Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly and Cavan county catchments. Projects benefitting from the fund will improve and increase angler accessibility to fisheries, develop and install new fishing stands and tackle terrestrial invasive species. A number of angling clubs and other groups have benefitted from this round of funding and projects are about to commence on Loughs Sheelin, Glore, Ennell, Derravaragh and the River Suck.

Minister Joe McHugh commented, “It is through these sustainable funding schemes, such as the Midland Fisheries Sustainable Development Fund, that anglers and communities are empowered and can benefit hugely. Essentially it is money raised in the locality through purchase of the permit that facilitates a funding injection back into the catchments, increasing revenues to communities and creating jobs - funds raised in the locality staying in the locality”.

Full details of the Midland Fisheries Fund can be obtained on the Inland Fisheries Ireland website at: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/midland-fisheries-fund.html.

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For further information contact:

Suzanne Campion, IFI, Tel: 052 6180055 / 087-2690183

Note for Editors:

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.