Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to the major infrastructure projects in Cromane and Greencastle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18275/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Funding has been provided by my Department under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for the above two locations.

In 2007, my Department approved agreed to provide funding of €500,000 to Kerry County Council towards the development of the pier at Cromane, Co. Kerry. The project involves the construction of a pier, breakwater, access road and dredging of the entrance channel. In order to progress the project Kerry County Council need to secure the acquisition of certain portions of land at Cromane. They were however, unable to secure the necessary compulsory purchase order in 2007 and the project failed to progress in that year.

€750,000 has been allocated by my Department to this project in 2008 and Kerry County Council are hopeful of securing the necessary compulsory purchase order this year which will enable works to proceed.

Greencastle harbour is under the control of Donegal County Council and has a very significant congestion / safety problem. The recommended development option for Greencastle consists of four phases, which will provide a rock breakwater, fuel berth and mussel berth, new deep-water berths and additional berths to the inner harbour, estimated to cost in excess of €35 million (phase 1 which involves the construction of a breakwater is estimated to cost €16.8 million).

This project is being co-financed by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Food, the Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, and Donegal County Council. The development at Greencastle commenced in 2007 and funding of €1,158 million was provided in that year.

€3.6 million has been allocated by my Department to this project in 2008 under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.