Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the need to dredge the harbour at Helvick Pier, An Rinn, Dungarvan, County Waterford; if he will prioritise and ring-fence funding to be used for this purpose as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is currently unable to launch its lifeboat at low tide and the threat to life represented by this, in addition to the difficulties posed to the local fishing community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16467/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Helvick Harbour is owned by Waterford County Council, and responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the harbour rests with the Local Authority. My Department however, provides funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

The Local Authorities were contacted regarding the 2015 programme on 13 March. Waterford County Council submitted an application for funding for dredging of the harbour at Helvick Pier, under the Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure Programme. This application is currently under consideration.