Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1427. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the development and safety upgrade of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour, in light of ongoing dangerous conditions for vessels and crews during adverse weather conditions; once the planning consent is awarded that the funding for this vital infrastructure is made available and the tendering process is commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58409/25]

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.

Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre suffers from long period seiching which can result in difficult berthing during storm events. This is due to infragravity waves, resulting from storm wave grouping coinciding with the natural period of resonance in the harbour basin.

My Department commissioned a study in 2024 to examine solutions and three possible options were considered. A further study was commissioned in 2025 to carry out additional wave modelling to ensure that the wave climate inside any proposed structure would be considerably improved. This modelling was based on the preferred option in the 2024 report which incorporated a new rubble mound breakwater running southeast from Kelly’s Rock overlapping an extension to the existing mole.

The final report was received in late June 2025 and is currently being reviewed by Department engineers.

Subject to the acceptance of the report the next step would be to procure the services of a consulting engineer to complete the detailed design, permitting and tendering of works contract. This would be considered in the context of available funding, cost benefit analysis and overall national priorities.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1428. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to conducting a national audit of pier safety and facilities used by Ireland's inshore fishing communities, in light of ongoing reports of hazardous conditions; if he will ensure direct consultation with fishermen community in the allocation and oversight of pier development funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58410/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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One of the actions for my Department in the Programme for Government is to invest in our State Fishery Harbour Centres and public marine infrastructure. The vast majority of the State's piers, harbours and slipways are under the control of local authorities. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned infrastructure rests with each local authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter.

However, my Department has, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, provided some 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.

Local authorities are encouraged to assess the coastal/marine infrastructure under their control that may require repair, modernisation, enhancement or upgrading on an annual basis, identifying those projects that could be considered eligible for funding under the Programme each year.

It is the experience of my Department, and indeed I know from my own interaction with the local authorities, that the local authority engineers have a very good knowledge of the condition and status of their facilities. The local authorities have open communication with their harbour users which helps to ensure that defects are identified directly and safety concerns are addressed quickly.

As a new initiative this year, my Department circulated information to inshore fisher representatives regarding the announcement of the 2025 Programme. The Inshore representatives were encouraged to highlight smaller piers, slipways and such that may require upgrading to their relevant local authority in advance of the local authority submitting their prioritised projects. It is my hope that such cooperation and engagement with the industry will grow in future years and will assist the local authorities in ensuring the funding is directed to the most appropriate infrastructure.