Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when each of the capital works projects, funded under the 2025 fisheries harbour centre and coastal infrastructure development programme, will commence at Dunmore East fisheries centre. [64302/25]

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. It also has responsibility for Cape Clear, Cleggan and some Piers, Lights and Beacons.

In March I announced a capital investment package of €27.75 million for the 2025 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The allocation included:

capital commitments for ongoing projects and the planned commencement of some new projects;

monies for safety and maintenance and disability access works; plant and machinery; Cape Clear and piers, lights and beacons; and

an allocation of funding for a Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme.

As part of this package, Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre was allocated €2.195 million for maintenance and capital projects.

All capital projects 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.

Where consents such as planning permissions or waste licences are required, the timeline for processing of such consents is a matter for the permitting authority. Therefore, it is not possible to advise with certainty either the commencement or completion dates of all specific projects at this time. However, I expect that the more minor works projects not requiring statutory consents will be substantially completed by year end.

The attached table lists the capital projects proposed for Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre in 2025 with estimated commencement and completion dates.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the interest of public health and safety, if urgent improvement works to the new pier on Tarbert Island, County Kerry, will be carried out, and if the sinkhole can be addressed, as a matter of priority. [64316/25]

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, Tarbert Island Pier is under the remit of Kerry County Council. The primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

However, 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. These projects must support the core objective of my Department to support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Applications are assessed by considering the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, the priority assigned to each project by the pertinent local authority, the funding available, and the necessity to guarantee a wide geographical distribution of projects.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 21st May last, I announced an allocation of €4.33 million for 57 projects across 11 coastal local authorities under the 2025 Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme as part of this Programme. My Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs (up to a maximum of €187,500 scheme funding per project) with the local authorities providing the balance.

Kerry County Council submitted applications for 6 projects, all of which were approved for funding to the combined value of €628,000.

My Department is administering this Scheme, and each local authority is responsible for the governance and delivery of its own projects.

Matters in relation to Tarbert Island Pier should be directed to Kerry County Council.