The harbour at Clogherhead is owned by Louth County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development lies with the local authority. Funding of over €80,000 towards safety works and surfacing at the harbour was provided under the fisheries harbour programme, 2001. In 1998 Louth County Council commissioned consulting engineers to carry out a technical assessment of the development needs of Clogherhead Harbour. Their report, which evaluated a range of options, recommended extending the pier, the construction of a breakwater and dredging works. The cost of these capital works was estimated at the time to be in excess of €3.81 million.
My Department has consistently advised that any major capital investment proposed for Clogherhead should be underpinned by a comprehensive cost benefit analysis which should evaluate 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. My Department grant-aided a cost benefit analysis commissioned by the local authority last year. I am advised it has been completed and is being evaluated by the local authority prior to submission to my Department.
Consideration of any subsequent proposal for the development of the harbour by the local authority will be informed by the findings of the cost benefit analysis. However, under the national development plan funding for major fishery harbour development work is substantially oversubscribed at this point. Future capital development options in relation to Clogherhead will be assessed in the light of the cost benefit analysis and the overall funding envelope available.