Funding Announced for Angling Development in Midlands
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Joe McHugh TD, has 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 from 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”.
