Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1271.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on when the new Rossaveal deep water harbour in Galway is set to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35043/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In February this year I allocated €29.7 million for capital projects in the six state owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. See: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/1e320-minister-mcconalogue-announces-investment-of-297million-in-the-fishery-harbour-centres/

I allocated €17 million to the Deep Water Quay project at Ros an Mhíl to continue the works to add 200 meters of berthage. This additional infrastructure will be critical to supplying the downstream seafood and processing industries, and in sustaining the livelihoods of coastal communities in the region.

This project began in 2023 and was scheduled for completion in the first half of 2025. The initial planning permission for this project (granted in 2018) was due to expire in July 2023 before the works would be completed. My Department’s Consultant Engineer applied for an extension to the Planning Authority, Galway County Council in May 2023 and was granted an extension of 5 years in July 2023 to allow the works to be completed.

An environmental NGO has challenged the decision to extend the period of the planning permission. Further to the Department’s legal advice, the Contractor was instructed to cease all works on site on 20th May 2024 pending the outcome of the Judicial Review.

My Department is working with our Consulting Engineer to prepare the material required to submit an Application for a Substitute Consent to An Bord Pleanála. While the timeframe for this process is uncertain it is likely to be lengthy. I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will be focussed on progressing this application as a priority.