Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1741 of 29 April 2025, if the details requested will be issued to this Deputy, given the response is not accurate and Kerry County Council does not have anything to do with the processing or issuing of foreshore licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25007/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that my response to his previous question was accurate. However, I can provide more detailed information in this response to further assist the Deputy.

Kerry County Council is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of Renard Pier. The relevant parent department for Kerry County Council is the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Under the BALAMI Scheme 2022-2023, Kerry County Council applied to my Department for funding for the Renard Pier project, which consisted of 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 and did not receive funding from my Department. However, the pier repair works at Renard Pier were approved under the BALAMI Scheme. I am advised that Kerry County Council encountered delivery challenges in relation to design methodology and supply chain issues that inhibited delivery of this project within the eligibility period of the funding. In view of the importance of this project to the local fish processing industry at Renard, Minister McConalogue agreed to allocate Exchequer funding for it in 2024. The works were completed in December last year and a total of €1.66 million was reimbursed for eligible capital works.

As part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provides 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. In March, Minister of State Dooley and I announced an allocation of €4.3 million funding for the 2025 Programme. The closing date for submission of applications was 4th April. Kerry County Council did not submit any application for funding for Renard Pier to be considered in this year’s scheme. Regarding the Deputy's previous request for a detailed progress report on any improvement works to the slipway at Renard Pier, this would be a matter for Kerry County Council.

The responsibility for foreshore licensing in my Department extends to Aquaculture and Fisheries related activities only , including activities in the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres. I can confirm that we do not have any foreshore applications on file for Renard Pier. From July 2023, all new applications for consents in the maritime area are submitted to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority , under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This body has responsibility for processing foreshore applications which do not come under the remit of my Department.