Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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359. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided for urgent works on the slipway at Renard Pier, Caherciveen (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38720/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. However, as part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has, in previous years, provided funding to assist coastal local authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between the years 2011 to 2021, Kerry County Council received funding of over €2 million from my Department of which over €335,000 was in respect of works to Renard pier.

Most recently under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023, Kerry County Council received €2.4 million for five completed projects at the close of the Scheme. The Scheme was funded under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to help fishing and coastal communities to address the impacts of Brexit through the delivery of safe, accessible, lasting infrastructure and support economic diversification right around our coastline.

The projects put forward were submitted and prioritised by Kerry County Council. Renard Pier project was submitted in the second tranche of the Scheme for two phases of works – structural repair works to the pier to facilitate fish landings and widening of the slipway to accommodate a larger ferry. The works to the slipway did not sufficiently demonstrate the benefits to the fishing community and so did not meet the Scheme criteria. The pier repair works received approval for €1.89 million, however Kerry County Council reported that these works encountered delivery challenges in relation to design methodology and supply chain issues that inhibited delivery within the eligibility period of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. In view of the importance of this project to the local fish processing industry at Renard, I decided that this repair project needs to be delivered and I agreed to allocate Exchequer funding up to €1.89 million in 2024. It is the responsibility Kerry County Council to deliver the project before the end of the year.