Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to announce funding from his Department for annual repairs for piers and quays to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10643/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. In addition to funding for Department owned harbours the programme provides funding for Local Authority owned piers and harbours subject to available funding.

As the Deputy will be aware, a significant amount of damage has been caused to the national piers and harbour infrastructure by recent storms.

As part of its overall co-ordinated response to the impacts of the recent unprecedented weather conditions, the Government has decided to allocate an additional € 8.8M for the repair the repair of the public piers, harbour and slipway network linked to fisheries and aquaculture. In light of the additional funds now available my Department has, as of February 18th, invited applications for funding from Local Authorities in respect of projects which relate to the repair of public Fishery and Aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events. Closure date for applications was Friday 28th February.

This scheme will form an extended part my Department's 2014 capital programme which provides support for the maintenance and development of public piers and harbours on an annual basis. In 2014, priority will be given to projects which relate to the repair of public Fishery and Aquaculture related harbours, piers and slipways damaged in the recent storm events.

My Department is currently assessing the applications received from Local Authorities for funding under this Programme.

I expect to be in a position to announce the detail of the programme in the near future.