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Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Questions (1500, 1501)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1500. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to assess and develop the capacity to construct and support marine based renewable energy projects here with regard to the required harbour and associated facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32527/20]

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Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1501. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the harbours that are considered suitable or relevant to the development of marine resources along the west coast of Ireland in view of the fact that the area is being viewed as an area that may be suitable for the development of marine renewables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32528/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1500 and 1501 together.

The Fishery Harbours Centres Act 1968 established the concept of Fishery Harbours in the State and vested their management in the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility for the Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) in October 2007. There are currently six FHCs located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl.

The FHCs were established to act as dedicated centres and focal points for the promotion and development of the Irish seafood industry which comes under the remit of this Department. These are not the largest harbours in the State and numerically are a small proportion of the Harbours in the State. There are large independent commercial harbours which operate under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and smaller Harbours operated and owned by the Local Authorities under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Overall policies and strategies for delivering on climate change and renewable energies are not primarily a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, these primarily fall under the remit of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

Funding for Capital works in the six FHCs is made available on an annual basis by my Department, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. A phased programme for the infrastructural development and maintenance of the six FHCs has been progressed over the last number of years. Between 2010 and 2019, €125m has been invested in these developments.

Should any proposals be brought forward either centrally or from private enterprises to develop the infrastructure in any of the FHCs to support the marine renewable industry they will be considered as appropriate.

As is the case with all developments in the six FHCs generally, any future decision with regard to formally initiating capital projects will only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding, competing national priorities and compatability with existing activities.

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