Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the most recent professional drawn and Department-initiated plans for an extension of the current harbour facilities at Dunmore East harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26868/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department most recently engaged consulting engineers RPS to develop options for a small craft harbour within Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre and consideration of all necessary works and structures required. The technical feasibility study, which was finalised in 2019, included site investigation, modelling and a comprehensive review of possible harbour layouts which have been assessed on a wide range of criteria including number of berths, anticipated wave climate, harbour facilities and operation development, environmental considerations, engineering and cost. Any future development would be subject to securing appropriate consents and securing funding, which is allocated on an annual basis in line with national priorities for Exchequer funds and competing priorities within my Department.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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279. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made on major development projects in in Castletownbere, Howth and Killybegs, as outlined in the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030; if he will outline, and provide costings for, any planned works in Dunmore East, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs in this current budget term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26869/23]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new developments his Department intends commencing by 2025 at Department-owned harbours around the country as per the National Development Plan 2021-2030; the capital costs required for these developments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26871/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 281 together.

My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl under statute. In 2023, I allocated €37.3m funding for capital investment into the FHCs and a small number of other locations under my Department's remit. Details of the project allocation are available in tabular form online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/bbd0b-minister-mcconalogue-announces-investment-of-373million-in-capital-projects-in-irelands-six-fishery-harbour-centres/

The Deputy may be aware of the €30m Deep Water Quay project currently underway in Ros an Mhíl. This project is part of an allocation of €17.36m capital investment for Ros an Mhíl from the 2023 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and will continue into 2024. There are a number of multi-annual capital projects due for completion this year; these include the pier extensions in Castletownbere and Killybegs with allocations of €2.5m and €7.5m respectively. Last year saw the completion of the new Fishing Pier in Howth at a cost of €10m. My Department has plans for further significant investment with a dredging and reclamation project for Howth for which planning permission is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála.

These infrastructural developments are critical to the fishing fleet and the land based seafood processing industry. The continued development and modernisation of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network demonstrates the Department’s commitment to supporting the fishing industry and rural coastal communities. Funding is allocated on an annual basis in line with national priorities for Exchequer funds and in line with priorities set by my Department.