Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the correspondence from a group (details supplied) with regard to the building of Ros a'Mhíl deepwater pier; if he will provide details of the engagements, if any, he or officials from his Department have had with this group on foot of this correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47669/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the decision was made to seek tenders to dredge to a depth of -10 m in relation to the building of the deepwater pier at Ros a'Mhíl harbour, particularly given the existing planning permission is for a deepwater pier of a depth of -12 mat low tide; the basis on which the decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47670/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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276. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the analysis his Department has carried out into updating the terms of the current tender process for the deepwater pier development project in Ros a'Mhíl harbour in order that tenders may be sought for dredging to a depth of -12 m, rather than -10 m, in light of reports and design work over the past 20 years which conclude that a depth of -12 m in the berth pocket is optimal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47671/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 to 276, inclusive, together.

On 1 February this year I announced that I had decided to proceed with the development of a Deep Water Quay at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre. The context for this decision is provide additional quay side and greater depth to accommodate larger fishing vessels, and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels.

In line with the Public Spending Code, a cost benefit analysis report which considered the costs involved in a number of options for delivering the new development formed an important basis for the decision to proceed with the project. That report, which my Department published online contemporaneously, identified the option estimated to cost €25m ex VAT at the time. Since then, detailed design has been procured and a tender competition to deliver the works is underway. The full costs of the project will not be known until that tender competition closes. My Department is working hard to ensure that the project is delivered within the timeframe of the existing planning permission.

Having regard to the size and scale of fishing vessels frequenting our Fishery Harbour Centres I am more than satisfied that the development which is being procured is appropriate to the needs of the sector. In addition, the development will also be accessible to large vessels such as the Irish Naval fleet, Marine Institute Research Vessels, marine survey vessels, marine leisure craft and others.

In relation to the correspondence identified by the Deputy, I understand a reply issued last week. I myself met with some of the individuals concerned on my two visits to Ros an Mhíl late last year and in February this year and they very much welcomed the decision to proceed with the project. My officials most recently met with some of the individuals concerned earlier this month at Ros an Mhíl.