Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Fishery Harbour Centres

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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3389. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to invest strategically in harbour infrastructure to attract increased landings into Ireland of sustainably caught fish in Irish waters, driving the development of the seafood processing sector and the blue economy in coastal communities. [40162/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie 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.

Funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, €140million has been invested in this Department-owned infrastructure.

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, my Department has, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, 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. Since 2010, over €31 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.

In continuance of the Governments investments in Marine Infrastructures to date, this year I announced details of a further €38.3m Capital Investment Package (2021 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme) for the ongoing development of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network including Local Authority Harbours across 12 coastal Local Authorities.

In line with the Government commitments, my Department continues to strategically invest in the Fishery Harbour Centres. This includes increasing landing capacity at both Castletownbere, Killybegs and Howth Fishery Harbour Centres through pier extensions.

Additionally, under this year’s programme, I approved funding of €4.2m for a significantly enhanced programme to assist coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 79 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. 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.

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