Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I wish the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, well in their portfolios.

As regards the business and marketing plans, at this stage three strategies have been looking at the development of business at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre, at a cost of somewhere in the region of €200,000. Unfortunately, they have not been rolled out. It is vitally important that, if the centre is to play its role in the overall regeneration of Donegal South-West, the plans are implemented. While I hope Killybegs will always be the largest fisheries port in the country, opportunities abound for alternative complementary industries to develop. What is vitally needed is a willingness within the Department to facilitate their development. The business plan identified a number of barriers which could be removed without cost or expenditure implications for the Department by the creation of an atmosphere in which development would be allowed to take place. There are a number of sites available. Last year the offer of a site for a new fishmeal plant was withdrawn by the Department. Such developments are, therefore, being held back. We need a culture to develop that would allow the process to move forward. It could be very beneficial to south-west Donegal as well as nationally if the Department was to take a proactive role in ensuring this happens.

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