THIRTEEN angling projects have qualified for a combined £600,000 in the latest round of funding under the EU Tourism Angling Measure 1994-1999.
The latest approvals were announced yesterday by the Minister of State at the Department of the Manne, Mr Eamon Gilmore, who said the success of the five-year programme had persuaded him to seek further EU funding.
Mr Gilmore made the announcement at a seminar in Dublin, at which angling interests from Ireland and invited European journalists heard reports on the progress of the measure to date. The Minister said that of the £19 million fund provided for the five-year period, some £11 million had already been allocated.
The latest batch of projects approved include provision of angling stands and other facilities at lakes in the Border counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. But the largest single investment - £237,000 - will help create carp, tench and trout fisheries at a heritage guest house in Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow.
Mr Gilmore said such investment was important. But he warned angling had no future unless the threat to waterways from silage effluent and slurry was dealt with. To this end, the Department of the Environment had allocated £450 million to sewerage treatment under the current National Plan, and phosphate reduction facilities were being provided in sensitive areas to reduce nutrients entering river catchments.
The Minister also opened a new Internet web site which gives detailed information on fish stocks and facilities for all the State's fishing areas. The site has a link to the touchtel national tourist information site, allowing users to book accommodation in those areas directly.
Among the projects highlighted during the seminar was a £400,000 scheme to develop 14 coarse and game angling sites in the Border counties. Two of the lakes chosen played host to this year's Benelux "King of Clubs" angling competition, which brought 280 visitors to Cavan and Leitrim.
Also featured was an initiative to improve the so-called "hot water stretch" of the River Shannon near Lanesboro, Co Longford. The site has proved popular with anglers because the release of hot water from the nearby power station attracts large numbers of fish.
