Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when approval will be given by his Department for the investment of €1 million for the development of a marina for Westport as promised in 2002 and again recently by a spokesman for the Government in February 2004. [16266/04]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2002, Mayo County Council in association with Westport Town Council and Westport Harbour Commissioners submitted an application for funding under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan, for the proposed marina, 46 berths. However, as the applicants had not obtained the necessary statutory permissions, that is, planning permission and foreshore lease, as required under the conditions for the scheme, their application could not be considered further. The applicants were informed of this and that they could apply for funding under a future call having obtained the required permissions. However, in December 2002, the grant scheme was suspended and the applicants were formally notified.

No funding was available for the grant scheme in 2003 or in 2004. In light of the findings of the mid-term review of the regional operational programmes completed by the ESRI which recommended reallocation of funds to other priorities, it is unlikely that the scheme will be reactivated within the term of the national development plan. I am not aware of nor do I have at my disposal any other source of funds to support this project.