128. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 3 March 2026, the weight he places on the salmon catch data from angling logbooks for the Boyne catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50924/26]

129. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 3 March 2026 if the TEGOS framework design considered periods of low rainfall that span across two calendar years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50925/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.

The scientific assessment of salmon stocks, which informs the annual salmon conservation regulations, is carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) through the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). Neither the Minister or Department have a role in undertaking the scientific assessment of salmon stocks or determining the methodology underpinning this assessment. Under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, IFI has responsibility for advising the Minister on the scientific and technical basis for the management of salmon fisheries.

As noted in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 3 March 2026, TEGOS assesses salmon stocks using an established scientific methodology applied consistently across all designated salmon rivers. The assessment considers the most recent five-year period and draws on a range of information sources, including fish counter data, angling logbooks returns and catchment wide electrofishing surveys. No single dataset determines the stock status of a river. Accordingly, while angling logbook returns forms part of the data considered by TEGOS, it is assessed alongside other scientific information and is not relied upon in isolation. Similarly, the scientific methodology is intended to account for variation in environmental factors, such as periods of low rainfall, which may affect river conditions and monitoring activities.

IFI has established a specific e-mail address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries, including those relating to the scientific assessment and evaluation of salmon stocks in rivers, can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.