Inland Fisheries Ireland (Project Beneficiary)

Inland Fisheries Ireland (formerly the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board) is the public service body responsible for conserving, protecting, developing, managing and promoting Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling. This work ranges from fish population surveys, habitat rehabilitation/enhancement, biological studies and enforcement of environmental and fisheries protection legislation. Inland Fisheries Ireland (Limerick) works in partnership with local communities as a key aspect of our work particularly in regard to the restoration of fish habitat. The old Shannon Regional Fisheries Board was given the task of initiating a pilot Catchment Management Project for the Mulkear River. The catchment management concept is outlined in the Central Fisheries Board ‘Strategic Development Plan for Inland Fisheries (1998 – 2002). This plan states that the Fisheries Boards are satisfied that the way forward in the management of our fisheries resource for present and future generations is through the development of the “Catchment Management” process. Through this process, the biotic integrity and well being of our rivers should be maintained and enhanced. The current Mulkear LIFE project was developed through the stakeholder participation within the Catchment Management process for the Mulkear River with actions for Annex II species identified. Pilot studies were carried out on the implementation of the actions with stakeholder involvement (and respective funding) to identify appropriate costings and other practical considerations.

The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board merged on July 1st 2010 into Inland Fisheries Ireland – this has been an amalgamation of all nine regional fisheries boards.

http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/

OPW (Associate Beneficiary)

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the Irish Government’s principal engineering agency, responsible for buildings restoration, conservation, flood defence, town planning and public access. The OPW has the responsibility for the drainage and the maintenance of previous drainage programmes (outside of those under the management by Local Authorities). These schemes are principally aimed at land drainage for agricultural reasons and flood relief, particularly in urban areas. The OPW is also the statutory agency entrusted with the responsibility to ensure and advise that developments are carried out taking adequate account of the drainage regimes in areas being maintained by the OPW. More recently the OPW has assisted the Fisheries Boards in riverine rehabilitation programmes and now carries out its operations in consultation with the fisheries sector to ensure as far as possible the environmental sustainability of its activities.

http://www.opw.ie/en/

Limerick County Council (Associate Beneficiary)

Limerick County Council (Associate Beneficiary) as a Local Authority employs professional and technical staff qualified in town and county planning, environment management, agriculture and conservation, supported by professional administration staff. As a statutory Public Authority the organisation has responsibility for the provision and management of infrastructure, the protection and conservation of the environment, and land use planning. Limerick County Council, as the lead local authority, is a participant in the Shannon River Basin District, an international project for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (200/60/EC).

http://www.lcc.ie/

NPWS (Co-financier)

The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and is charged with the conservation of a range of habitats and species in Ireland. The role of NPWS is:

• To secure the conservation of a representative range of ecosystems and maintain and enhance populations of flora and fauna in Ireland,
• To implement the Wildlife Act, 1976, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 and the EU Habitats and Birds Directives,
• To designate and advise on the protection of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) having particular regard to the need to consult with interested parties,
• To make the necessary arrangements for the implementation of National and EU legislation and policies and for the ratification and implementation of the range of international Conventions and Agreements relating to the natural heritage,
• To manage, maintain and develop State-owned National Parks and Nature Reserves.

http://www.npws.ie/en/

North Tipperary County Council (Co-financier)

North Tipperary County Council provides a range of services to the citizens of North Tipperary and is headquartered in the Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh with area offices in Borrisokane, Newport, Thurles and Roscrea. The Council is comprised of 21 Elected Representatives, directly elected through the system of proportional representation. The functions of the Council are divided into reserved and executive functions. Reserved functions are carried out by the Members and relate primarily to policy issues including the adoption of the County Development Plan and also the adoption of the annual budget. Executive functions are the responsibility of the County Manager and these include the day to day administration of services. The Council is currently implementing an ambitious programme of modernisation in accordance with the core principles established in ‘Better Local Government – a Programme for Change’ which are:

• Enhancing local democracy and widening participation
• Serving the customer better
• Developing efficiency in local government
• Providing proper resources to allow local government to fulfil the role assigned to it

http://www.tipperarynorth.ie/

South Tipperary County Council (Co-financier)

South Tipperary County Council as a Local Authority employs professional and technical staff qualified in town and county planning, environment management, agriculture and conservation, supported by professional administration staff. As a statutory Public Authority the organisation has responsibility for the provision and management of infrastructure, the protection and conservation of the environment, and land use planning. South Tipperary County Council is a participant in the Shannon River Basin District, an international project for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (200/60/EC).

http://www.southtippcoco.ie/