Anglers take strong line against new boat charges
Members of a major navigation group on the Shannon say they have been told by senior officials from Waterways Ireland that they are considering an annual registration and license levy to raise independent funding.
It is understood that Waterways Ireland will include the registration and licence fee in new by-laws which are being drawn up for the entire country. At present the different inland waterways have their own by-laws. There is a registration requirement for boats but no fee.
Waterways Ireland is the 32-county body set up by the Southern and Northern authorities to manage all inland waterways on both sides of the border.
A member of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board yesterday warned that anglers would resist any move by Waterways Ireland to impose a licence levy on boats.
Paddy Mackey, a member of the Nenagh Boat Club based at Dromineer in Lough Derg, said: “Anglers would be totally opposed to any registration fee or licence charge because we don’t get any service from Waterways Ireland. They look after the locks and navigation markers along the river, and anglers don’t make any use of these when they go out on the lake.”
Colin Becker, chairman of the boating and leisure committee of the Inland Waterway Association, said they had been informed from a senior source in Waterways Ireland that registration and licence fees for all boats were now being planned.
He said: “We understand the logic behind the proposal is that the departments of finance in Dublin and Belfast are putting pressure on Waterways Ireland to come up with proposals to generate revenue of their own and not be totally dependent on state funding.”
He said his organisation, which represents up to 6,000 leisure boat owners on the Shannon, had not yet formally adopted a policy on the matter as they do not know what it will involve.
Mr Becker, who has a 61ft barge on the Shannon said: “There could be substantial charges for some if the licence and registration fees were based on the horse power and foot print of a boat.”
He said they have been informed by Waterways Ireland that there would be a full consultation process before any final decision is taken.
If Waterways Ireland proceed with a registration and licence fee, it would apply to all the main waterways including the Shannon, Royal Canal, Grand Canal, the Erne, Lower Bann and the Barrow.
At present boat owners have to pay a charge on some of the waterways every time they use a lock.
A spokeswoman for Waterways Ireland said a review of by-laws was being carried out and public consultation regarding this review will take place in 2006.
