Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the timetable for construction works in the development of Greencastle harbour announced at the end of January 2006; the projected total costs for the works; the amounts that will be provided by his Department and the local authority in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13746/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The harbour at Greencastle is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with the local authority in the first instance. In 2006 the Department has allocated funding of €2.4 million towards the commencement of the first phase of a development project for Greencastle harbour under the fishery harbours development programme. Under that programme the Department provides 75% funding and the local authority pays the balance of 25%. The total expenditure envisaged for 2006, including the county council's contribution, is €3.2 million. The proposed development at Greencastle has received full planning permission.

The first phase is the construction of a 290 m long rock breakwater; the cost of this phase is currently estimated as €16.74 million. The second phase involves the construction of 100 m of berthage for mussel dredger boats; the current cost estimate of this second phase is €4.56 million. The third and final phase would be the construction of a 250 m long deepwater pier whose current estimated cost is €16.74 million. The total estimated cost of the project comes to €38.04 million at current costings.

The 2006 works will consist of access road construction to the proposed new breakwater site and the carrying out of environmental impact mitigation measures at neighbouring residential properties.

The question of providing further funding to the project in future years depends on the amount of Exchequer funding available for fishery harbours and overall national priorities.