Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is constant contact between my officials and the islanders.

I have been asked questions regarding Galway County Council, which I honestly cannot answer. I can say that my Department is giving Galway County Council all of the support we can give in trying to move this on as quickly as possible. They are finalising the compulsory purchase order, CPO, for two parcels of land. One is a temporary CPO for the duration of the development and the other is permanent.

Galway County Council has lodged the foreshore licence application but they were advised during a recent meeting with the foreshore unit that it is a lengthy process and no estimated time for approval had been given. If we can move it on quicker we can, but obviously there is a process that must be gone through to get that.

Additional marine surveys and environmental studies are to be carried out at the location as part of the foreshore application. Galway County Council has published draft bye-laws for the management of the pier and is currently collating the submissions received from the public.

The project will not be held up by my Department. The money is not the issue. It will get the funding but there are things that have to be done before the project can be progressed any further.

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