David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the funding available to enable the development of Ballycotton Harbour in County Cork to proceed; the expected timescale for the development of the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18165/04]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The harbour at Ballycotton is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development is a matter for the local authority in the first instance.

In 2001 the council submitted a report prepared by consulting engineers on the estimated cost of the Ballycotton Harbour development plan. The proposed development is estimated to cost a total of €6 million. This includes the cost of constructing a marina.

There is no funding available to my Department in 2004 under the fishery harbour development programme for works at Ballycotton Pier. The question of funding works at Ballycotton Pier post-2004 will be considered in the context of the funding available for fishery harbour development works and overall national priorities.

The Deputy will be aware that Cork County Council applied for funding in 2002 under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan for a development including a marina — 18 berths — at Ballycotton, County Cork. 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 following the receipt of the required permissions.

Due to budgetary constraints, no funding was available for the grant scheme in 2003 or 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.