access to irish waterways and coastal areas

[roshaw_87]

extracts from are national countryside recreation strategy

http://www.pobail.ie/en/RuralDevelopmen ... 590,en.pdf

Water Based Recreation
Inland water-based recreation and leisure is directly
managed, developed and promoted under statute
by Inland Fisheries Service, Waterways Ireland and
the Office of Public Works. It is centred mainly on
angling and cruising on lakes, rivers and canals.
Waterways Ireland
Waterways Ireland is the North/South
Implementation Body responsible for the
management, maintenance, development and
restoration of the inland navigable waterway
systems throughout the island, principally for
recreational purposes.
Waterways Ireland’s mission is to strive to provide
a high quality recreational environment centred on
the inland waterways of Ireland in its care, for the
use and benefit of everyone.
The waterways under the remit of Waterways
Ireland are the Lower Bann Navigation, the Erne
System, the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Barrow
Navigation, the Grand Canal, the Royal Canal and
the Shannon Navigation. This network provides a
waterway link from Belleek to Waterford, Limerick
to Dublin and many places in between. The inland
waterways are a wonderful resource which can be
enjoyed and experienced by all in many different
ways.
The waterways contribute to countryside recreation
through the wide range activities on offer along the
1,000km waterway system. The development of the
waterways also brings increased economic activity
and benefits to the local waterway economies. The
waterway network is home to a substantial cruise
hire fleet of boats and a large private fleet. The
network also supports sailing, canoeing, kayaking,
rowing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and numerous
other water sports. Coarse angling is also popular
with both domestic and foreign anglers; while
the way-marked ways and cycle routes along the
towpaths and banks provide a tranquil and oft
times spectacular journey. The fringes, banks and
hedgerows along the waterways provide a habitat
for all types of flora and fauna.
Waterways Ireland works to continually enhance
the facilities and services offered on the waterways
to meet the needs of increasingly demanding and
sophisticated local and visiting recreational users.
Fisheries Board
The general function of the Central Fisheries Board
is to, inter alia promote, support, facilitate and
co-ordinate where necessary the conservation,
protection, management, development and
improvement of inland fisheries. In this regard,
the Regional Fisheries Boards encourage, promote,
market and develop angling for salmon, trout,
coarse and sea fish. They encourage, promote,
organise and co-ordinate the voluntary development
of inland fisheries catchment management plans
in their regions. They co-operate and co-ordinate
with the Central Fisheries Board and other Regional
Fisheries Boards where necessary to ensure the
effective and efficient deployment of resources
and other matter having regard to the need for
the sustainable development of the inland fisheries
resource (including the conservation of fish and
other species of fauna and flora and the biodiversity
of inland water ecosystems) and as far as possible
ensure that their activities are carried out in a
manner which protects the natural heritage within
the meaning of the Heritage Act, 1995. A key
objective of the Boards is to increase involvement
in angling activities especially at youth level. The
Boards are actively involved in supporting initiatives
in this regard.
The Marine Institute
The development of the water-based tourism and
leisure sector forms a core element of the strategic
objectives of the Marine Institute, which aims to
maximise the development potential of the sector
in a sustainable manner. In July 2006, the Institute
published a Strategy for Marine Tourism & Leisure
2007 – 2013. This strategy aims to maximise the
contribution of marine tourism and leisure to the
achievement of national objectives for tourism,
rural and local development, countryside recreation
and the management of natural environment via
co-ordinated action at national and local level. Its
objectives in the area of recreation are to ensure that
marine and coastal resources are fully developed
for the wellbeing of local communities and that
safe and responsible use of coastal and marine
resources for leisure and recreation is achieved.

Appendix 1
Membership of Comhairle na Tuaithe
Coillte
Comhar LEADER na hÉireann
Cork Kerry Tourism
County and City Managers’ Association
Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Fáilte Ireland
The Forest Service, Department of Agriculture and Food
The Heritage Council
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association
The Irish Countrywomens’ Association
The Irish Farmers’ Association
The Irish Sports Council
The Irish Uplands Forum
Irish Ways/Walking Cycling Ireland
Keep Ireland Open
The Mountaineering Council of Ireland
National Parks and Wildlife Service