P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her plans for the development of the fishery harbours at Bantry, Baltimore, Schull, and Union Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30135/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The piers at Schull and Union Hall are the property of Cork County Council and responsibility for their repair and upkeep rests with the Local Authority in the first instance.

My Department does, however, co-fund maintenance and development works with various Local Authorities subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. The 2007 harbours and coastal infrastructure programme was announced earlier this year but no applications for funding were received from Cork County Council in respect of the above locations. I have recently invited applications for funding under the 2008 fishery harbours programme and any application received from Cork County Council for the above locations will be given due consideration.

The piers at Bantry and Baltimore come under the Harbours Act, 1946 and, as such, are under the control of Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners and Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners, respectively. The harbour authorities under the Harbours Act, 1946 are the responsibility of the Department of Transport.