Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

530. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for funding from Mayo County Council has been received (details supplied); the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26163/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.

The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter.

However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership.

Between 2011 and 2018, €4.4 million in funding has been granted under the programme to Mayo County Council, including €90,000 in funding for repairs to Belderrig Pier in 2014.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved funding of €2.2m for the Local Authority element of my Departments 2019 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Mayo County Council has secured €330,000 of funding for three projects under this year’s programme.

A key element in the determination of the projects to be funded is the priority placed on them by the Council, and while an application was received for replacing the winch system at Belderrig Pier, the three approved projects received a higher prioritisation by the Council.

Should any application be submitted by Mayo County Council in relation to Belderrig Pier under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available funds.