Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Kyne for the opportunity to speak on this matter. The Department owns, operates and maintains, under statute, six designated State-owned fishery harbour centres. These are located at Ros an Mhíl, Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth and Killybegs. As the Senator stated, the Minister visited Ros an Mhíl fishery harbour centre last week and had the opportunity to meet with key stakeholders and see for himself the location of the proposed deepwater berthing project.

I understand from the Minister that the possibility of developing this project at Ros an Mhíl has been under consideration for some time. The Department currently has planning permission for that purpose, which runs until April 2023. A phased programme for the infrastructural development of Ros an Mhíl has been progressed in recent years, which has seen investment of approximately €31.6 million from 2010 to 2020. Earlier this year, the Minister allocated €1.09 million for capital works in Ros an Mhíl. Of this, €100,000 is to fund two studies concerning the deepwater project. One is a review of the wave-modelling studies previously carried out in 2002 to ensure the analysis takes account of both the revised quay development layout and the influence of climate change on wave models affecting the harbour. Separately, the Department has commissioned a review of the cost-benefit analysis report previously carried out by DKM Economic Consultants Limited in 2017, again incorporating the revised quay development layout. Both studies are interlinked in that the wave-modelling outcome will likely influence the cost-benefit analysis. The final reports are expected in November or December.

The influence of climate change, particularly sea level rises and changes in storm intensity and duration, has always been an important consideration in marine infrastructure projects. More recently, this has been formalised via the agriculture, forest and seafood climate change sectoral adaptation plan, which is part of the suite of measures being implemented under the Government's climate action plan. It is important that the current studies should be concluded and can contribute to any future decisions on funding such projects.

During his visit to Ros an Mhíl, the Minister received a copy of a report commissioned by Údarás Na Gaeltachta that identifies Ros an Mhíl as a prime location for the development of a strategic hub to support the floating offshore wind sector on the west coast. There is a broad context here of cross-cutting Government policies, as the Senator highlighted. I understand Údarás na Gaeltachta will be taking this report forward with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, to ensure there is a rounded consideration of the policy issues and investment needs raised.

Last week, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, received the report of the seafood sector task force, which firmly places an emphasis on creating opportunities for Ireland's fishing communities to offset the impact of the loss of access to UK waters through the trade and co-operation agreement between the UK and the European Union.

That said, the primary role and function of the fishery harbour centres is to support the seafood industry, and the provision of any other services or facilities in the centres must be considered in that context. This is a legal obligation set out in the Fishery Harbour Centres Acts. Any future decision formally to initiate the deepwater quay project in Ros an Mhíl will have to reflect available Exchequer funding and competing national priorities.