Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.

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. From 2020 to 2023 €110.7 million was invested in capital infrastructure projects at these facilities. Each year the allocation of funding is made in line with the needs of each harbour and having regard to existing contractual commitments, emerging needs and available resources.

In any particular year, the Department can be managing 50-60 different projects across the Fishery Harbour Centres and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Projects where there are existing multi-annual contractual commitments are carefully monitored in progress and delivery as these can impact on capacity to spend in other areas. This means that from time to time the Department has to re-prioritise projects to match available resources and this has been the case with regard to the projects referred to by the Deputy. During 2023 expenditure on a number of existing contractual commitments, including the Smooth Point project at Killybegs and the Deep Water Quay project at Ros an Mhíl, was ahead of profile with a consequential impact on delivery on some other projects.

With regard to the projects themselves, project development continued through the work of the Department's Marine Engineering Division. The Department is also currently revisiting a report from a consulting engineering firm with regard to value-for-money future development options for Dunmore East. In this context the Department considered it prudent to pause on further development on the West Wharf at this time.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has responsibility for the six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth.

Capital projects are subject to rigorous project management processes including design, tender action and implementation stages; and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review in accordance with the Public Spending Code and, now, the Infrastructure Guidelines. Additionally, all contractual projects are subject to the applicable conditions of contract and as such it is necessary to follow due process in accordance with such conditions.

As has been the case across the construction sector in the period since 2020, project delivery has been impacted by public health restrictions arising from Covid19 and the particularly disruptive impacts arising from the invasion of Ukraine. Delivery challenges that have been encountered include consenting, procurement, contractor difficulties, supply chain and weather windows for works. Despite these obstacles, between 2020 and 2023, €110.7 million of the €133.7 million allocated was invested in projects at the six Fishery Harbour Centres.

I allocate funding on an annual basis in line with national priorities for Exchequer funds and in line with priorities set by my Department. Earlier this month I announced a capital investment package of €29.7m for the six Fishery Harbour Centres as part of the 2024 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Details of project allocation are available in tabular form online at: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1e320-minister-mcconalogue-announces-investment-of-297million-in-the-fishery-harbour-centres/