Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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486. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be made available for the development of Clogherhead Harbour, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30566/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Clogherhead Harbour is owned by Louth County Council and responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority. That said, under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department has, in previous years, provided funding to Local Authorities for the development and repair of their harbours, piers and slipways subject to the availability of exchequer funding.

Any application submitted by Louth County Council in respect of Clogherhead Harbour under a future Local Authority capital programme, will be given consideration in the context of the criteria set out, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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487. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department received an application from Sligo County Council on 22 April 2015 for funding to complete the planning and permitting process, the detailed design and tender documentation production for the proposed Rosses Point pier and pontoon scheme; if the council advised his Department on 22 April 2015 that the council had submitted a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the proposed scheme on 27 March 2015; if his Department has made a decision on the application for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30596/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rosses Point is in the ownership of Sligo County Council and responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. That said, under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme this Department has in previous years provided funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours piers and slipways subject to exchequer resources. I allocated € 2.7 m for the 2015 Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure Programme.

Sligo County Council submitted an application for Rosses Point for design and construction of a pontoon and access ramp under our 2015 Programme. When a detailed application was sought regarding the project, it emerged that the project involved planning, detailed design and tender documents and the costs attached thereto and that there would be no capital works involved.

Funding provided under our Programme is for the purpose of capital works only. Funding for studies, surveys, design fees or costs attached with obtaining necessary consents for a project are not allowable as projects or project costs under the programme. Thus this project did not qualify for funding under the 2015 Programme.

Any application submitted by Sligo County Council for funding under the Capital Programme in future years for capital works for Rosses Point will be given consideration in the context of the criteria set out, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.