Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus níl mé cinnte an bhfuil an freagra ag an Aire i mBéarla nó i nGaeilge agus b’fhéidir go mbeimid in ann cóip de sin a fháil. Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh i nGaeilge ar dtús ar aon nós. Baineann an ní Ábhar Tráthúil seo, mar a dúirt an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach, le Ros a Mhíl agus tá gá práinneach le soiléireacht ó thaobh buiséid de ionas go mbeimid in ann dul chun cinn na forbartha seo a fheiceáil.

Tá cúlra anseo agus níl a fhios agam an bhfuil na fíricí agus an cúlra aige. Tá tuarascáil anseo i mo lámh: Rossaveel Harbour Deep Water Quay Cost Benefit Analysis Final Report 23rd June 2017. Is anailís costais agus tairbhe í agus tá dáta Meitheamh 2017 uirthi. Ní raibh an tuarascáil sin le fáil go dtí gur chuir iarrthóir ó Shinn Féin ar an talamh brú damanta ar an gcóras chun é a fháil agus tá sé sin suntasach. Chomh maith leis sin chuir mise brú ar leibhéal eile agus beagnach bliain ó shin, arís i mí Mheitheamh, fuair mé cóip den tuarascáil, is é sin trí bliana tar éis an tuarascáil a bheith foilsithe. Fuair mé litir suntasach freisin. Bhí a lán eolais inti agus chuir sí in iúl dúinn go raibh an tuarascáil seo ann agus tiocfaidh mé ar ais go dtí an tuarascáil mar tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá moltaí láidre ann maidir le tábhacht an togra seo agus chomh tábhachtach is atá sé don cheantar. Chomh maith leis sin chuir sí in iúl dúinn, tar éis na tuarascála seo, gur lean an Roinn ar aghaidh agus dúirt an Roinn go raibh tuilleadh taighde ag teastáil. Bhí innealtóirí agus athbhreithniú i gceist. Tá tuarascáil eile ann ó Aibreán 2019 agus níl cóip den tuarascáil sin agam. Ansin, dúradh liom ag an am sin, breis is bliain ó shin, go raibh obair ar an suíomh le tosú maidir le tuilleadh scagtha agus scrúdaithe, is é sin i míonna Lúnasa agus Mheán Fómhair 2019. Níl cóip de na tuarascálacha sin agam, ach an oiread. Ag an bpointe seo, níl a fhios agam an bhfuil an tAire chun an freagra a thabhairt dom i mBéarla nó i nGaeilge, so I will change to English now.

We have a report from 2017. I have a letter from 2020 which finally gives me a copy of the report and tells me there are other reviews. The report states the development of a deepwater quay in Ros an Mhíl is essential to the area. It points out that for 600 km between Na Cealla Beaga and Castletownbere there is no port with proper facilities and notes the importance of developing one in Ros an Mhíl. We have a report that is equally as strong in what it says about the need for development in Galway for socioeconomic reasons of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language. Údarás na Gaeltachta, it its submission on the port in Galway, made the point that this is essential and said it was very important to develop Ros an Mhíl.

Rather than doing it in this manner, I ask that the Minister meet Deputies locally and give urgent clarification on what the Department has in mind in relation to the development of Ros an Mhíl. I understand there is an existing permission that will run out so there is a necessity for clarity on the provision of the funds agus i ndeireadh na dála táimid ag caint faoi airgead suarach i ndáiríre. It is a small amount of money in the scheme of things and given the importance of the development for the region. I hope for clarity in both languages today. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Connolly agus táim buíoch di an deis seo a thapú an t-ábhar seo a shoiléiriú. Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre is one of six designated fishery harbour centres owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute. The others are located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth and Killybegs. Approximately 26 vessels are based in Ros an Mhíl with whitefish being the primary catch. The harbour also sees between 20 and 25 fishing boats from the east coast, carrying mainly prawns and whitefish. There are virtually no foreign landings at Ros an Mhíl. Ros an Mhíl is a primary harbour for passenger travel to the Aran Islands and the harbour centre provides facilities in support of passenger and cargo ferries to the Aran Islands which are invaluable to the residents of same and act as a catalyst for development of the island-based tourism industry.

The Fishery Harbour Centres Act of 1968 established the concept of fishery harbours in the State and vested their management in the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility for these harbour centres in October 2007. All six are strategically important infrastructure which underpin the Government's strategy to further develop a modern offshore Irish fishing fleet to attract large offshore fishing vessels of other member states to increasingly land in our harbour centres and also to drive the development of a modern onshore processing industry.

Funding for capital developments is made available on an annual basis by the Department to the harbour centres, including Ros an Mhíl, via the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme. A phased programme for the infrastructural development of Ros an Mhíl has been progressed over recent years and has seen significant investment. In total, approximately €31.6 million was invested in capital development at Ros an Mhíl between 2000 and 2020. In addition, €1.09 million has been allocated for capital works in the harbour in 2021.

The possibility of a deepwater berthing project at Ros an Mhíl has been mooted for some time. The Department commissioned DKM consultants to conduct a cost-benefit analysis into the development of a deepwater quay at Ros an Mhíl. A draft report was submitted to the Department in June 2017. Since the report was drafted, there have been changes to some of the fundamentals underpinning the original analysis. In 2018, the Department commissioned engineering consultants to undertake a review of the design solutions, scoping options and operational aspects of a possible future project. An interim draft of the quay wall peer review report was received in April 2019.

It identified the need for additional site investigations to be carried out at Ros an Mhíl. They were carried out in August and September 2019 and have been completed. The final quay wall peer review report was received on 27 July 2020. The Department is considering this report, including the site investigation results, to inform a future assessment of possible design solutions and scoping options that will in themselves inform any future decision on progressing the project.

Depending on the scoping option chosen, the project's cost could reach an estimated €29 million. In that light, I have allocated €100,000 in the 2021 development programme to explore the potential and benefits of a deep water quay project. Planning permission has been obtained for the project and is valid until April 2023. Should it be necessary, a further application can be submitted. No decision on progressing the project to work stage has been made to date. As is the case with all developments at harbour centres, any future decision on formally initiating a project will be considered on the basis of the available funds and in light of the reports and assessments.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister, but I received the exact same answer on 29 June 2020. I am sorry, but I have learned nothing extra beyond the fact that there was a final report in 2020. I do not know the date because I have not been given a copy of the Minister's reply. Níl raibh agam é i mBéarla nó i nGaeilge. Can I get all of the reports that the Minister referred to since that date? Will he meet the Deputies from the area, which would be good manners in any event?

Of more importance than all of that is the development in the area. We have the report. There was a major delay with it. We did not get it until 2020, and then only after pressure. We are in the same position again. I appreciate the money that has gone into Ros an Mhíl. People were delighted with the money that went in over the years. It was essential money. However, no progress has been made on a commitment to build céibh dhomhainmhara. Is é sin an rud atá ag teastáil go géar, mar is eol don Aire. Tá i bhfad níos mó taithí aige maidir leis an ábhar seo ná mar atá agamsa. The Department has a great deal more experience in this area. What we need is a timeframe and a commitment for the provision of a budget. We want to see all of the reports that the Department has and no one else has seen. That is what openness and transparency are about.

This is a matter that is strategically important for balanced regional development in Connemara, which is crying out for development. We must have balanced regional development. We must make sense of the words we use. The recommendations in the cost-benefit analysis will not change. Other elements might change, for example, the engineering details, but the analysis set out clearly that the "do nothing" option is not a good one and that a "do something" option, depending on which one is chosen, is essential for the area for socio-economic reasons, which are the same imperative reasons of overriding public interest for which the harbour board is looking for the matter in Galway to progress. Why would we treat the two areas differently? That is not acceptable.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that we have the chance to discuss this matter today. I know the importance of the project and its value to the fishing sector locally. I have been in close contact on this matter with my party colleagues, Deputy Ó Cuív and Senator Crowe, my Government colleague, Senator Kyne, and my Cabinet colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. I have also received representations from other representatives, including Deputy Grealish. I am aware of the project's importance to Galway's marine sector and the west and significant consideration is being give to it. I have allocated €100,000 this year to consider the options further. I have been in contact with Deputy Ó Cuív in recent days about engaging further on the matter and I will be talking to my Government colleagues in the constituency in the time ahead about how we will move the project forward. I will also engage further with Deputy Connolly and other Opposition Deputies.

I appreciate Deputy Connolly raising this matter. I understand the importance of the project and of us working together to determine what potential there is to progress it. I am committed to doing that working with everyone in the time ahead.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Will the Minister provide copies of the reports?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I will make them available to the Deputy if it is possible to do so and feasible in line with our normal practice.