My Department is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Rossaveel and Killybegs. The Fishery Harbour Centres provide essential services and facilities to the fishing industry around the coastline of Ireland. My Department also has responsibility for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of Piers, Lights and Beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act. My Department however provides funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme subject to the availability of exchequer funding.
On 20 March this year, as part of the Governments co-ordinated response to the damage caused by the winter storms, I announced €8.5m in funding for a once off programme to repair 115 publically owned piers, harbours and slipways damaged by these storms.
As part of this Storm Damage Programme €2m in funding was approved for Galway County Council for the repair of 15 piers and harbours in County Galway damaged during the storms earlier this year. No application to repair the pier at the East End of Inishbofin was received under this programme.
In addition to the above on 1 May 2014 my Department invited all coastal Local Authorities to submit, in order of priority, a list of projects for consideration for funding under the 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The funding approved for Galway County Council under this programme amounted to €225,000 which is 75% of the combined project costs. No application in respect of the pier at the East End of Inishbofin was received under this programme.
In accordance with my responsibilities under the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons act, I made €40,000 available this year to replace Gun Rock light at the entrance to Inishbofin Harbour, which was washed away during the inclement weather. I am happy to inform the Deputy that this work has been completed.
Any application submitted by Galway County Council in respect of Inishbofin under the Capital Programme in future years will be given consideration in the context of available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
