Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1444. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently examine the feasibility of providing a landing facility in one in the oldest fishing villages at Cromane in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59191/25]

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 facilities at Cromane are under the remit of Kerry County Council in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has provided funding, under both the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure and Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) schemes, to assist coastal local authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between 2010 and 2024, Kerry County Council received funding of over €6.1 million from my Department in this regard. On 21st May last, I announced an allocation of €4.33 million for 57 projects across 11 coastal local authorities under the 2025 Programme. Kerry County Council was allocated over €628,000 to undertake 6 approved projects. No application for funding was received under this or previous schemes in relation to capital works at Cromane.

The development of Cromane has been a topical issue for a number of years and as far back as 2019 my Department gave commitments to make officials available to attend a working group to examine the feasibility of providing a landing facility there. The working group was to be convened by Kerry County Council and, to our knowledge, this group has yet to be organised. That said, my Department's commitment to participate remains. I would be delighted to accept an invitation to meet with Senior Officials in Kerry County Council and members of the fishing community.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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1445. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to expedite an extension to the slipway at Renard Pier, Cahersiveen, County Kerry, to accommodate a larger ferry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59192/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The responsibility for the development and maintenance of Renard Pier rests with Kerry County Council in the first instance, and with its parent department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. In regard to the extension of the slipway to accommodate a larger ferry, I understand that the contract to provide the ferry service to Valentia Island was awarded by Kerry County Council and as such, the progress of the development would be a matter for Kerry County Council.