Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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2221. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government intends to support strategic investment in local marine infrastructure in areas such as Dún Laoghaire under the maritime regeneration, development and conservation fund; including the upgrade of small harbours, improvements to marine access and development of eco-tourism facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43368/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, 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. As such, the marine infrastructure in Dún Laoghaire harbour and surrounds is the remit of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I am aware of the Programme for Government commitment to establish a Maritime Regeneration, Development and Conservation Fund with the actions to support harbours, marinas, and tourism development as well as to address coastal erosion. This fund does not fall under the remit of my Department. However once the fund is announced, I will work closely with the fund administrators on the actions relevant to this Department.

In the meantime I can share details of funding already provided to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council by my Department. Since 2013, the Council was reimbursed over €3.65 million under various schemes and programmes.

As part of the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provided funding of over €155,000 to assist in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in the ownership of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

My Department also administered the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023, which provided unprecedented funding for small scale shovel ready projects under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, where Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council received funding of €3.5 million for 5 projects.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council applied for and was granted funding for a project valued at €180,000 under the 2025 Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme. My Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs, with the local authority providing the balance.