Lough Foyle capital funding to be wiped out

Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew said capital spending on projects for the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC) - established in 1999 to promote Lough Foyle - will be cut to nothing after this year when 400,000 has been allocated.

There will be no capital spending until 2014-15 at least under the new proposals.

The day-to-day running costs of FCLIC - supposed to promote the development of Lough Foyle for commercial and recreational purposes - will be cut from 2m in 2010/11 to 1.8m over the subsequent two years; cut again to 1.7m in 2013/4; and cut again to 1.6m in 2014/15.

The current expenditure cuts will mean a sharp drop in the money available to pay Commission staff over the next five years.

But DARD points to the savings it will make by cutting both capital and current spending on Lough Foyle.

Current expenditure savings by unit of service at FCLIC will be 200,000 in 2011/12; 300,000 in 2012/13; 300,000 in 2013/14; and 400,000 in 2014/15. The total savings will be 1.2m.

According to the Minister's new proposals the savings will come in part from efficiencies at the Loughs Agency, which has its headquarters in Londonderry.

The DARD Draft Budget proposal states: "Many of the Department's functions relate to policy making, research, allocating funding to delivery holders, and developing guidance and support initiatives.

"There is some scope to realise savings within these areas of activity due to the completion of various policy and legislative activities, and reduction in science activities.

"Examples of such savings include a reduction in the Rural Policy Division resources, and efficiency savings by the removal of over-provision on the baseline within the Loughs Agency (Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission) and incremental recovery of VAT from HMRC."

Equally, the report notes: "The administration and funding savings represent: efficiencies and the removal of an over-provision in the budget of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission."

FCILC was established in late 1999 by the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ireland establishing North/South Implementation Bodies.

Its functions include the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes and the conservation, protection, management and development of inland fisheries in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas.

It is also responsible for the development and licensing of aquaculture in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas and the development of marine tourism in Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.