Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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692. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the infrastructure projects being built or commissioned by his Department that are currently late in their delivery; and the infrastructure projects currently over budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34084/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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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.

Every year, my Department allocates funding under the Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, which includes details of the capital projects planned for each Fishery Harbour Centre in the coming year.

All capital projects in my Department 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 Infrastructural Guidelines. 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.

I am aware of only one such project that is currently late in its delivery. The construction of the Deep-Water Quay in Ros An Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre began in January 2023 and was progressing according to plan. Unfortunately, the extension to the planning permission granted by the Planning Authority (Galway County Council) in May 2023 was the subject of a Judicial Review initiated by an Environmental NGO. This resulted in the issue of an order of certiorari in October 2024 that quashed the decision of Galway County Council to extend the planning permission.

Consequential to this, all works ceased on site in May 2024 - initially pending the outcome of the Judicial Review and, subsequently, pending the outcome of my Department’s Substitute Consent application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Consultants from my Department commenced work on the necessary reports, design and planning documentation in August 2024, and anticipate submitting the application by July 2025. The process may extend to 12 months or longer, depending on the specifics of the project, the review of existing baseline information, and the completion of any necessary surveys that may be subject to seasonal limitations. Timelines may also be influenced by the required consultations with An Coimisiún Pleanála and other statutory entities, including Galway County Council. It is anticipated that when the project recommences it will take approximately 18-24 months to complete.

I am not aware of any infrastructure projects that are currently over budget.