Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grants or funding available for the repair of piers and slipways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30544/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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 Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

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, Local Government and Heritage thereafter.

However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provides 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 2010 and 2019, €28.2 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.

In February of this year, coastal Local Authorities were invited to submit prioritised lists of projects for consideration to be included in the annual capital programme. In total, 164 preliminary applications for funding were received, seeking a funding contribution of €9.6m.

All applications for funding made by Local Authorities in respect of qualifying projects were then assessed, taking into account compliance with the criteria of the scheme, the priority attached to each project by the relevant Local Authority, the funding available, and the need to ensure a broad geographical spread of projects.

Under this year’s programme, funding of €3.1m has been approved to assist 10 coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 58 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The maximum eligible project cost under this year’s scheme is €200,000, with my Department contributing 75% of funding and the relevant Local Authority providing 25%. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.