Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note the presence of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming. I am sure he will pass my sentiments and contribution on to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and that the Minister will be notified of what I have to say.

I raise the issue of Keelbeg pier in Union Hall. I will put the matter in context. We had very welcome news a number of weeks ago with regard to €33 million from the Brexit adjustment fund being provided to local authorities to carry out works on smaller piers and harbours in their charge. Many of us in this House have been saying for quite a while that it is incredibly important that we invest in those small piers and harbours and open up access to our coastline for activities such as inshore fishing, marine leisure, whale watching, kayaking, sailing and rowing. There is great potential in that regard so this type of funding is very welcome. Cork County Council did well in that 14 of 15 projects were awarded funding. This will allow for much-needed works at places like Courtmacsherry where there is to be dredging under a pontoon to allow it to be realigned. There are also to be works at Turk Head, Laheratanvally, Cunnamore, Glengarriff, Ardgroom and Kinsale, where an entire pontoon, known as the fisherman's pontoon, is being replaced. This is all very welcome.

Funnily enough, the one project of the 15 proposed that did not succeed was that at Keelbeg pier in Union Hall. Even more funnily, it is, in many ways, a blessing that funding was not granted for the works at this pier. I will explain why. It was Cork County Council's intention to cut off access and to use that funding to install a barrier on what we call the "old pier" in Keelbeg, the eastern pier. There is a commercial pier at Keelbeg, which is a fantastic new facility used for fishing activity by a significant fishing fleet, and there is also the old pier. Public access to the commercial pier is completely cut off. The only part of the harbour to which the public still have access is this old pier, the eastern pier. It was the intention of Cork County Council, if it had been successful in getting funding, to cut off that access. This pier is very important for some smaller inshore fishermen who use it. It is also important for some leisure activities. The rowing club uses the pier, as does the sailing club and sailing school. The school is located at a pier in Glandore but uses this pier at Keelbeg to launch its boats. This infrastructure is absolutely vital. Where Cork County Council is coming from in this regard is that the end of this pier, the outer half, is in disrepair. Some of the pier has been chipped off and it is in quite poor condition.

I ask the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to look at any new application Cork County Council makes for funding to repair the pier and to install infrastructure such as rails, ladders and cleats for tying off boats. A foreshore licence would not be required, which I understand is a difficulty with this scheme. I ask that the Department liaise with Cork County Council and encourage an application for funding to repair that pier rather than to install a barrier to cut off much-needed access for users of the pier.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The first 30 seconds of the last minute of his contribution were very encouraging, in that he said the tenure and focus of the funding was for diversification of use of the pier. What is more encouraging is the reason the application was not successful is it was for security works, as the Minister of State said. That tells me that if Cork County Council reapplies, it must do so for something entirely different, not just barriers but actual repair works.

I am aware there will be further calls for funding in June and later in the year, which is very encouraging. However, I wish to point out a trend here. I am not sure it is true of all local authorities but certainly with Cork County Council there is a trend towards limiting access to piers and harbours. We spoke about Keelbeg pier in Union Hall where it proposed to install a barrier. There are similar plans for Glandore, which lies over a kilometre across the water from Union Hall. There would not be a barrier but the plans are very much about restricting access to this wonderful facility. The Glandore facility has a yacht club and rowing club, is used by kayakers and has various other uses. Again, however, the county council is taking this risk-averse approach rather than doing what it should do, namely, opening up access to piers and harbours and encouraging people to come down and use the water. It should be putting facilities in place so people can do that. The trend, however, is to move in the opposite direction and cut off access, which is worrying.

To make a final point on the Brexit adjustment funding for local authorities, there must be flexibility as regards the scope of that. The scope specifies shovel-ready projects. There are many projects on the coast of County Cork that may require foreshore licences, for example, at Garinish Island and Bere Island. These projects should be considered, at least as regards applications for foreshore licences, and the scope should not be as tight as it currently is.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for that further information. I hope Cork County Council will take the opportunity to engage with local stakeholders in an appropriate way regarding proposed works or changes to the use of marine public infrastructure.

Returning to the scheme, I spoke about the seafood sector task force. This is a special once-off emergency instrument under the Brexit adjustment scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and, where appropriate, environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Ireland is the biggest beneficiary of this fund. The BALAMI scheme is designed to support job creation and protection by distributing these funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop Ireland's publicly-owned coastal and marine infrastructure and thereby support downstream opportunities. As was mentioned, 14 projects have already been approved. There is still funding available. Cork County Council will have to engage with local communities and the Department in any new application. I detect from reading this note that the issue must be with recreational activities, which the Deputy mentioned, including the various clubs involved in marine sports, sailing and whale-watching activities. All of those are important but the funding must be linked to the Brexit issue. That is the point. The scheme is funded from the Brexit fund.

The Deputy mentioned Glandore pier. I have been following social media in the last day or two and have seen protests on these matters. It is important that the council consult the local community and have a Brexit-impact aspect to the application before resubmitting it to the Department. There is still funding available.