Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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703. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress regarding the upgrading of Dinish Pier, Castletownbere, County Cork; the reason construction has stalled; and the expected completion date. [2666/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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.

Following a competitive tender competition, my Department awarded a contract to L&M Keating Ltd. to construct a 216 metre quay extension on Dinish Island, Castletownbere. Work commenced on the €25m project in October 2018 and to date there has been significant progress in the delivery of the project, with a substantial element of the works now completed.

The contractor applied to the High Court to enter voluntary examinership and this was granted on 12^thOctober 2020. In accordance with the Public Works Contract, my Department terminated it’s contract with L&M Keating Ltd. on 22^ndOctober 2020.

My Department has been working closely with our Consulting Engineers since the termination of the contract to plan the completion of the works. The site has been secured and made safe, emergency works have been completed on the breakwaters and a tender for completion of the Northern Quay has been advertised. It is expected that works will be completed in early 2022, however this timeline is, of course, subject to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.