Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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668. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 31 May 2022, the status of the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the status of the development of the model simulation of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland and if it has been completed and tested, with feedback given to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45189/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin, which is included in the National Development Plan.

As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was instructed by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour.

Galway County Council collated the technical specifications of the key vessels that use the harbour, and the results of a highly detailed, multi-beam mapping survey carried out in the harbour, and this data was used in the development of the simulation.

My Department has been advised that a demonstration of this model simulation is scheduled to take place at the NMCI this week, with the skippers of the relevant vessels in attendance to provide feedback.

Once the data from the simulation has been compiled, along with any feedback received from the vessel operators, Galway County Council will incorporate the findings into a draft business case. Following on from this, my Department will be in a position to evaluate the next steps in the process.