The pier at Clogherhead is owned by Louth County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development lies with the local authority. It is a matter for the county council in the first instance to bring forward proposals for capital investment. Funding of £125,000 was provided last year for the county council to support essential safety and maintenance works.
The scope for funding a development of the extent envisaged for Clogherhead is being kept under review by my Department in consultation with Louth County Council in the context of funding available under the fisheries harbours capital programme and overall national priorities. Any major capital investment would require in the first instance comprehensive cost benefit analysis having regard to all relevant economic and socio-economic factors, trends in volume and value of landings, the extent to which displacement is a factor, fleet trends and regional and local considerations. Reported fish landings at Clogherhead for 2000 show that 1,083 tonnes, live weight, were landed at Clogherhead with a value of £1.9 million.