Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contractual commitments contained within the €7.98 million funding recently announced for Killybegs harbour centre; if only €2.9 million of the funding is newly acquired in view of the fact that the €5.08 million allocated for contractual commitments represents previous funding commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8902/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. 

To provide for the necessary safety, maintenance and ongoing development of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, my Department administers the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme. In line with normal budgetary processes, funds are made available on an annual basis for these purposes.

In the period 2010 to 2017, €12.7 million has been spent on maintenance and development works at Killybegs. In 2018 I have allocated a further €7.98 million in funding for capital works in Killybegs.

The size and nature of some of the projects now being undertaken in Killybegs, taking on board operational considerations, has necessitated a phasing of the projects in addition to funding which straddles more than one year.

The circa €14m Smooth Point project at Killybegs currently underway will deliver a much needed 120 metres of additional berthing space. The project commenced with phase 1 in 2017 when €1.5m was spent, this was in addition to €0.4 million spent on project preparations in 2016. In 2018 I have allocated €4.87 million to the Smooth Point Project, €3.47m for the completion of Phase 1 and €1.4m for the commencement of Phase 2 of the upgrade. It is expected that the project will be completed in late 2019.

Similarly with the Landing Pier upgrade project, work commenced on the structural (pier fendering and berthing dolphin ) phase of this project in 2017 when €2m was spent, following on from €0.5m which was spent in 2016 on project preparation. I have allocated a further €1.26 million for the completion of these works in 2018. In addition I have provided €1 million for electrical upgrade element of the works which commences this year and is expected to be completed in 2019.