Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what is preventing his Department from funding preparatory, preliminary and actual works to dredge Dungarvan Harbour sufficiently to facilitate access to and from Cé Heilbhic in Gaeltacht na nDéise; if he is aware that the indigenous fishing industry is under threat because of silting in the harbour, which is reducing the times daily when boats can get in and out of the quay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39481/24]

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. The relevant local authority in the case of Cé Heilbhic is Waterford County Council.

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 2010 to 2021, Waterford City & County Council received funding of €3.64m from my Department of which €680k was in respect of works at Helvick pier. More recently, in 2022-2023, unprecedented funding was also provided through the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme, which was administered by my Department for capital works undertaken by the local authorities. Waterford City & County Council was allocated funding for 10 capital projects, all of which were completed, and it was reimbursed €3.11m through the scheme from my Department, of which €557k was in respect of repair and construction works at Helvick pier. The focus of my Department's scheme, as with previous programmes, was on supporting actual capital works and it was a matter for each local authority to progress any preparatory studies, permitting and design works.

Should any application be made for funding by Waterford City & County Council under any future programme in relation to dredging works at Helvick Harbour, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to the project by the Council, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.