Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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440. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if discussions have taken place with Galway County Council in relation to transferring sole responsibility for Cleggan Pier to Galway County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11530/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Pursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), my Department is responsible for the management, control and operation of the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl.

My Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, which were constructed under the auspices of the ex-Congested Districts Board. In addition my Department has responsibility for infrastructural works it carried out under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, some works at Cleggan Pier being part of this. Galway County Council is responsible for the non 1902 Act infrastructure at Cleggan Harbour.

To date there have been no discussions between my Department and Galway County Council in relation to the transferring sole responsibility for Cleggan Pier to the Council.

My Department does 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 & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

Most recently funding of €82,500 was granted to Galway County Council under the 2016 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for repair works at Cleggan Harbour. No application for funding in relation to Cleggan Harbour was received from Galway County Council under the 2017 or 2018 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programmes.