Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1914. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current requests for capital funding for improvement and-or maintenance work at State-owned and local authority-owned harbours and quays across the State, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20671/22]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy I have announced the approval of €32.7m in funding for 110 projects under the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme 2022-2023. This scheme is being proposed for funding from the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Details of the project allocation (including tabular format) is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7e3ad-mcconalogue-announces-approval-of-327m-brexit-investment-in-public-marine-infrastructure/. My Department will hold a further call later in the year for additional projects so that the remaining funding under this scheme can be similarly allocated.
I must again stress that responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and any wider funding issues for local authorities should be addressed to that Minister.
The Deputy will recall that I announced the allocation of €35m for capital projects in 2022 in Ireland’s six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres on 4th February. These projects at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth are funded through the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This programme also supports maintenance at Cape Clear and a small number of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act. Details of the allocations are available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3030f-minister-mcconalogue-to-invest-35-million-during-2022-in-irelands-six-fishery-harbour-centres/
