Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan for raising this issue. I am representing the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. He has asked me to respond on his behalf. I will speak directly with the Minister during the course of the day to reinforce the points the Deputy makes.

Responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority-owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. Keelbeg Harbour is owned by Cork County Council. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and that any issues concerning the administration or functions of local authorities should be addressed to him.

There are two Ministers involved in this because the local authority is the owner of the project.

I am aware there are concerns from harbour users concerning the future of Keelbeg Harbour. Earlier this year, the Minister announced the Brexit adjustment local authority marine infrastructure, BALAMI, scheme 2022-23. This scheme was designed having regard to the recommendations of the seafood sector task force tasked with assessing how we could help the seafood sector adjust to the impact of Brexit. The report of the seafood task force proposed an €80 million, five-year initiative for the development of publicly-owned marine infrastructure, of which the earlier years would focus on small-scale, shovel-ready local authority projects to be funded under the Brexit adjustment reserve. The resulting infrastructure development is intended to provide a longer term platform for the development of new and diversified economic activity in these coastal communities. An integrated application at a local level was envisaged by the task force to help the seafood sector pivot towards locally-led development and marine tourism initiatives.

At the Irish Skipper Expo 2022, held in March, the Minister announced the Brexit blue economy enterprise development scheme which has a €25 million budget for the years 2022 and 2023. The scheme is also funded under the EU Brexit adjustment reserve and is in keeping with the task force’s recommendations. I hope the Deputy and the House will appreciate the Minister is fully committed to seeing through the task force report insofar as he can. Our seafood sector in Cork and elsewhere needs this to be delivered.

On 25 April, the Minister announced the allocation of almost €32 million in funding to 110 projects under the BALAMI scheme, including €4.8 million for projects under Cork County Council’s remit. As the Deputy said, 14 of the 15 applications were approved as part of that €4.8 million. I understand the council had made an application for funding for certain works at Keelbeg, Union Hall, which was not approved at this time. It was not clear from the application presented that the works, which appeared to be fundamentally security control measures, met the central objectives of the scheme regarding economic diversification opportunities. If the council wishes to revisit this matter, it may do so as not all the funding for the scheme has been allocated at this time and there will be a further call for projects.

The Minister would very much would like to see each of the 110 projects approved thus far under the scheme delivered quickly so the construction stimulus the seafood sector task force identified can be felt on the ground as soon as possible. That said, I appreciate there is a need for constructive engagement with harbour users where potential change and disruption are concerned. I stress that in administering this funding scheme the Department does not and cannot get involved in the operational matters of a local authority. This includes the scope, design and prioritisation of projects.

Safety of all marine users is of paramount importance and I am conscious improvements in safety can affect the existing use or layout of public facilities. I am advised it has been reported that the council has safety concerns about the old pier at Keelbeg and plans to restrict access, a matter to which the Deputy referred.

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