David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available from his Department for the development of port and harbour infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26070/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. This Department is also responsible for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act. The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme which the Department administers on an annual basis provides for works relating to the maintenance and development of the above located harbour infrastructure. In 2015 I allocated a total of € 14.8 million for the repair and development of Department owned and managed infrastructure.

The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine’s Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme has in previous years provided funding to Local Authorities for small scale development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours & slipways subject to the availability of exchequer funding. In 2015 I allocated €1.6 million to Local Authorities for this purpose.

In addition, I have also allocated €1.4m in 2015 to enable Local Authorities complete storm damage projects approved in 2014, which were unfinished in 2014, due to time and other constraints. It is important to clarify that with regard to Local Authority harbours and piers, these are owned by the Local Authorities themselves and responsibility for their repair, maintenance and development rests with the Local Authority. The parent Department for Local Authorities is the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.