Vol. 557 No. 4
308 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the developments his Department proposes to carry out to Clogherhead pier following on his recent meeting in Clogherhead. [22653/02]
Clogherhead pier is owned by Louth County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the county council in the first instance. On 21 October I approved additional expenditure of €31,000 by Louth County Council – 75% of which will be met by my Department under standard arrangements – for the completion of works under way and to be completed by the end of November 2002, namely, safety works, repairs and the provision of sectored light.
I also invited the county council to bring forward proposals to advance the planning of a new pier development. It is anticipated that the council will advertise to appoint consulting engineers to undertake the necessary preparatory work, including carrying out the required environmental impact assessment and completing documentation to secure a foreshore lease and planning permission. I indicated that funding for advancement of the project would be the subject of further consideration next year and that, while I could not guarantee funding for the new pier development, I am anxious for the council to be prepared so that it could act immediately should funding be secured.
