The Department of the Marine is currently implementing the final year of its Fishery Harbour Development Programme covering the period 1989 through to 1993. The programme's objectives included not only the infrastructural development of the State-owned fishery harbour centres, but also the development of a number of strategically placed secondary harbours at which significant catches may be landed and a number of smaller harbours catering for needs which cannot be satisfied otherwise, either because they would add to congestion problems at the larger harbours or because the landing facilities in question are located adjacent to fishing grounds or aquaculture sites.
The development programme involved an expenditure of £15 million— 1989 prices—on infrastructural improvements at selected harbours, towards which a European Regional Development Fund contribution of £7.5 million, 50 per cent through the Operational Programme for Rural Development was secured.
The Department of the Marine is currently drawing up a new development plan for fishery harbours. This plan will again address the infrastructural needs of the State-owned fishery harbour centres and secondary harbours, including separate provision for aquaculture landing places. It is hoped that EC Structural Fund assistance will again be secured in respect of this plan.