SIPTU representatives have written to the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, seeking a meeting to discuss the return of the Education and Outreach programme run by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) following a decision to end its operations in January 2022. SIPTU Organiser, Gerry Harris, said: “The decision to end this programme is wrong and will lead to the loss of a valuable social service as well as six jobs. The programme provides services to vulnerable people whose participation is organised through organisations including the Irish Wheelchair Association, Traveller community groups, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Tusla and Garda Youth Diversion Projects. “It has provided the opportunity for people to enjoy and learn how to safely participate in angling over its more than 25 years of operation, for twenty years through the Dublin Angling Initiative and in recent years through the IFI Education and Outreach programme. “The rationale for the IFI decision is difficult to understand. The programme was not funded from core IFI funds but is provided through the Government operated Dormant Accounts Fund. Indeed, the decision to end the programme is counter to statements in the 2020 Dormant Account Action Plan which envisaged ‘continued funding for this measure in 2022’ and the Policy Framework for Inland Fisheries Ireland, which states that the organisation ‘must focus on education and awareness raising’." He added: “We have also written to the Board of IFI asking it to reverse its decision to end the Education and Outreach programme. If it is not possible to undo this decision, we are asking what programmes or scheme the IFI intends to replace it with in order to fulfil its commitment to social outreach and assisting the vulnerable communities it served?”
SIPTU seeks return of Inland Fisheries Ireland outreach scheme for vulnerable people
