Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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373. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide emergency funding to Donegal County Council for the removal of sand at the pier in An Bun Beag in County Donegal, as the accumulation of sand is in danger of making the pier unusable, and will impact on the ability of the local Coast Guard to launch a rescue boat, if required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34273/15]

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.

Bunbeg Pier is owned by Donegal County Council, responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority and their parent Department, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.

That said, my Department has in previous years provided funding to Local Authorities for small-scale development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways subject to the availability of Exchequer funding. In 2015 I allocated €2.7 million for this purpose.

No application was received from Donegal County Council in relation to Bunbeg Pier under the 2015 Harbour Development & Marine Leisure Programme.

Any application submitted by Donegal County Council in respect of Bunbeg Pier 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.