Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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513. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided by his Department for works and improvements to be carried out at a harbour (details supplied) in County Donegal in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the details of the most recent correspondence received by the local authority regarding proposals to develop the foreshore at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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An Leadhb Gharbh Harbour is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its maintenance, repair and development rests with Donegal County Council in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government thereafter.

My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority-owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

I can confirm that An Leadhb Gharbh Harbour received funding of €45,000 under this Programme in 2014 for works on the Harbour basin, and €7,500 under the Storm Damage element of this Programme in 2016 to complete storm repair works on the Harbour.

Our records indicate that my Department did not receive a funding application under the 2017 Programme for An Leadbh Gharbh Harbour. Should a future application be submitted by Donegal County Council in relation to this Harbour, it will be given due consideration.

I would also advise the Deputy that my Department's responsibility for the foreshore extends only to aquaculture and fisheries related activities, and activities in the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres. All other issues are the responsibility of the Environment Section of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I would refer the Deputy to that body regarding the foreshore query.