Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
18. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Question No. 320 of 14 December 2022, if she will provide an update on the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; if her Department has received the draft business case to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9084/23]
View answerTáimid ar ais arís go dtí na céibheanna agus go háirithe an Caladh Mór ar Inis Meáin. Cad é stádas na céibhe seo? Cá sheasann sé? What is the status of the Caladh Mór pier? We are at stage 3. Has the draft business case been received?
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As she is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets regularly to monitor progress on the development of the piers on the Aran Islands and held its most recent meeting earlier this week.
Regarding Inis Meáin, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of the Caladh Mór pier. I confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not yet received the draft business case from Galway County Council. As the Deputy is aware, the public spending code sets out a number of important steps and decision gates regarding any business case.
As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland was requested by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour. It has been completed and a full demonstration took place in September 2022, with the skippers of the key relevant vessels in attendance. That data has now been compiled, along with the feedback received from the vessel operators who participated.
It is my understanding that Galway County Council will soon start preparing an updated draft business case and strategic assessment. This will be based on the findings and data from the model simulation along with consideration of the various options. Once Galway County Council has completed this phase, the draft business case will be submitted to my Department for review and finalisation, in line with the public spending code.
Go raibh maith agat. This relates to the question on policies for the islands. This particular quay goes back to 2008, when phases 1 and 2 were completed. That is now 15 years ago. The failure to complete phase 3 directly affects business on the island. As the Minister knows, Cniotáil Inis Meáin is directly affected, not to mention all of the other users of the quay.
I welcome that the maritime college in Cork has completed its modelling. That is good. Over recent months that was a stumbling block, but that work has now been completed. The Minister is now telling me that Galway County Council will soon start preparing an updated draft business case. That is good. I would like a date for that.
As Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I had the privilege of looking at an answer to a previous question put by Deputy Mairéad Farrell. I am concerned that the answer stated the next step will involve Galway County Council completing an updated feasibility study and strategic assessment options. What is being done? One answer refers to a feasibility study, which I thought we were way beyond. Another answer refers to a business case. Perhaps the Minister could clarify the position.
I thank the Deputy. She is correct. Plans for phase 3 of the Caladh Mór pier in Inis Meáin were initially drafted in 2009. They involved an extension to the breakwater and the dredging of a substantial section of the harbour. The project then stalled. In 2019, Galway County Council began to amend the draft business case, in line with the public spending code, based on a template supplied by the Department.
Following further discussions with ferry operators in 2019, it was discovered by Galway County Council that the main problem for the ferries using the harbour related to the narrow entrance to the harbour and the dangerous swirling currents at that point, which forced vessels to accelerate too fast when entering the harbour, thereby presenting them with problems with stopping safely inside the harbour. In addition, there is an issue which impacts the cargo ferry, as the Deputy knows. On many occasions, there were large differences in the sea levels created by the swell which prevented the ferry from docking safely and forced vessels to travel to Inis Mór.
That is why we had to have simulations which, God knows, took long enough. We know that. They are now finished. My officials told me yesterday that the next step lies with Galway County Council, which is preparing a business case. The public service code sets out all of the different steps it has to take. It is updating the feasibility study based on the completion of the digital simulation. It is examining an assessment of options. Based on those findings, it will have to update the feasibility study.
Officials from my Department meet every fortnight with officials in Galway County Council. It now has work to do and the ball is clearly in its court. I will keep as much pressure as I can on it. This has gone on long enough. I reassure the Deputy that the money will be forthcoming when the plans are finally finished.
I thank the Minister. I do not like the word "finally", but I thank her for the clarification.
I do my best.
Perhaps she can clarify what money has been set aside or will be set aside to complete phase 3. As she knows, this is directly affecting business life on the island and the lives of residents on the island in terms of cargo coming in and being interrupted because of bad weather.
The Minister has said two things to me. Will they take place in parallel? She referred to a draft business case and an updated feasibility study now that the Cork part has been completed. Is that what she is telling me?
What are the timelines for the completion of those two items? When does the Minister envisage phase 3 being completed?
All I can say is Galway County Council is doing the business plan. It knows the steps under the public service code. As I understand it, based on the findings of the simulation, some changes may have to be made to the feasibility study. That is my understanding of it and I want to see this moved on. It is in the national development plan, NDP, the money will be provided when the plans come in and there is a commitment there to do it. I sometimes wish I could do these jobs myself, but I cannot. The Department cannot build the piers, but Galway County Council has to get the ducks lined up and get that application into my Department. It will obviously have to be assessed when it comes in. This is a big project; it is not a simple one. I reassure the Deputy I am committed that this project will be done.
