Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh agus a Cheannaire. This week the Government announced €35 million for what it is calling Brexit infrastructure funding for local authority piers and harbours around the country. Reading about this in Afloatmagazine this week, it is very much talking about the rehabilitation of piers and harbours that are owned by local authorities. My concern about this is that it overlooks those other aspects which may not be directly connected with Brexit, particularly in heritage areas like Dún Laoghaire Harbour and Coliemore and Bullock harbours.

These were ancient sites for trade on the east coast of Ireland in and around Dublin Bay. It is far too easy for the Government overlook the importance of these particular areas that need investment because they are very old sites and in several areas require urgent attention and maintenance. Coliemore and Bullock are two very small harbours close to Dalkey but Dún Laoghaire Harbour, which is an enormous Victorian harbour, has great heritage value but also has a trade potential to be part of our Brexit response. I would be very concerned if this announced block of funding overlooked harbours like Dún Laoghaire and focused instead, let us say, on Dublin Port which is a much more commercially viable entity, or on other ports around the country which may not need this funding as much as those smaller less commercially strong harbours.

Can we have a debate on where that funding is going to go and whether or not we can specifically provide heritage funding for small harbours like Coliemore and Bullock and Dún Laoghaire? Gabhaim buíochas.