#Angling - Sean Kyne TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, has today (Wednesday 9 August) welcomed a new €2 million funding call from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for angling projects and conservation initiatives.
The funding call, which consists of three separate funding streams, will help ensure that Ireland’s fish stocks and angling infrastructure are protected and enhanced into the future.
The 2017 IFI funding call is made up of the following funds:
- Salmon Conservation Fund to a maximum of €500,000
- Midland Fisheries Fund of €50,000
- National Strategy for Angling Development Fund (NSAD) €1,500,000
“As minister with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, I have ensured that significant funding under the National Strategy for Angling Development was available from my Department in 2017 to help Inland Fisheries Ireland develop a wide ranging investment initiative,” said Minister Kyne.
“I welcome the fact that the funding programme is rooted in community-led actions and I support Inland Fisheries Ireland in its enhancement plans. I also want to encourage angling bodies, community groups and local authorities to take up the funding opportunity and meet the development challenge at local, regional and national level.”
IFI is inviting applications for funding for projects across a number of areas, from fisheries habitat enhancement and sustainable development works to marketing and promotional projects for angling.
Applications are invited from groups, associations, clubs, local authorities or other appropriate bodies looking to improve Ireland’s fisheries resource.
IFI chief executive Dr Ciaran Byrne said: “Today’s announcement sees Inland Fisheries Ireland make over €2 million available to communities nationwide, for projects which will help contribute to an accessible and sustainable world class inland fisheries and sea angling resource for all.
“We want to ensure that we continue to invest in conservation, while also developing our angling offering in Ireland. While the National Strategy for Angling Development funding stream focuses on improving angling access with a view to attracting more domestic and overseas anglers to the pursuit, the Salmon Conservation Fund and Midland Fisheries Fund re-invest the contributions of anglers into valuable initiatives which a view to promoting the recovery of salmon stocks and habitats and supporting sustainable development works in the Midlands respectively.”
IFI will hold regional information workshops for those interested in applying for funding with a view to giving participants a better understanding of the various funding streams and how they can apply via an online system.
The workshops will take place at the following locations and dates (7pm each date unless otherwise stated):
- Tuesday 29 August - Clonmel Park Hotel, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
- Wednesday 30 August - Castle Hotel, Macroom, Co Cork
- Thursday 31 August - Maldron Hotel, Southern Ring Road, Roxboro, Limerick
- Monday 4 September - CityNorth Hotel, Gormanston, Co Meath
- Tuesday 5 September - Great National Hotel, N26 Dublin Road, Ballina, Co Mayo
- Wednesday 6 September - Menlo Park Hotel, Headford Road, Co Galway
- Tuesday 12 September - Harvey's Point Country Hotel, Lough Eske, Donegal Town
- Thursday 14 September - Athlone Springs Hotel, Monksland, Athlone, Co Roscommon
- Tuesday 19-Thursday 21 September (all day) - National Ploughing Championships, Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly
Members of the public who will be attending the workshops are asked to RSVP to [email protected], indicating which workshop they will be going to along with their name and contact details.
The closing date for applications to IFI’s 2017 funding call is Friday 13 October. For more information and to apply, see the IFI website HERE.
