Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capital works projects that are currently ongoing under the Fisheries Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development; the estimated cost of each of those projects; The expected timeframe for which those capital works projects will be completed, in tabular form. [40352/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

In February, I announced a capital investment package of €29.7m for the six Fishery Harbour Centres and Cape Clear as part of the 2024 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The allocation included capital commitments for ongoing projects and the planned commencement of some new projects.

All 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 Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Works Management Framework and the Public Spending Code. 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, including conditions relating to delay events, for example. I expect that the more minor works projects not requiring statutory consents will be substantially completed by year end.

A number of the larger projects detailed in the programme including Harbour Dredging in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and the Deep Water Quay in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre are multi-annual projects and will be completed in subsequent years. The 2024 allocation is reflective of the works to be undertaken in the current year only and not for the completed works. As many projects are subject to environmental and other assessments and statutory permitting prior to works commencing, it is not possible to advise with certainty either the commencement or completion dates.

My Department periodically reviews the annual capital allocation to make best use of any potential savings should projects be delayed or postponed. In 2024 the evaluation of the programme allowed some ongoing projects to be scaled up, and some projects proposed for future development to be brought forward. The attached table details the status of the projects announced earlier this year and also the additional projects included mid programme.

">Info