Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will upgrade the pier at Rathmullan, County Donegal, to enable heavy vehicles to use the pier for the loading and unloading of fishing boats; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Rathmullan is one of the deepest ports in Europe and consequently would be suitable for the docking of large boats if the pier were sufficiently strong to facilitate heavy vehicles; his views on whether the pier in its current state is impeding the development of a local industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45129/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Rathmullan Pier is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its repair, maintenance and development rests with the Local Authority in the first instance.

My Department provided €50,625 in funding to Donegal County Council for this location in 2007 as part of the Fishery Harbours & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. However no application for funding was made by Donegal County Council for funding in 2008.

The Fishery Harbours & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2009 is currently being drafted and my Department has recently requested applications for funding from all coastal Local Authorities. Any application from Donegal County Council in respect of the above location will be given due consideration subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.