Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1749. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to carryout urgent improvement works to Kilkeveragh Pier, Portmagee, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45460/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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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. In addition, this Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland. 

In the case of Kilkeveragh Pier, there is no evidence that this Department or its predecessors in title have any interest in this property. It appears that the pier was built and owned by Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and was held in what was called the Iveragh Estate. My Department has examined the records of the Irish Land Commission relating to the TCD Estates. These records indicate that, while the TCD Estates, including the Barony of Iveragh, were sold to the Congested District Boards in 1913, Kilkeveragh Pier was specifically excluded from the transfer.

Therefore, it is my Department’s understanding that Trinity College Dublin retained ownership of the pier after the 1913 transfer.

You will be aware that, 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.

Should the relevant local authority take charge of Kilkeveragh Pier in the future, any application that might be submitted by the authority which meets the conditions of the Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme would be considered in the context of available funding and overall national priorities.