Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
1097. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of all capital investment in each individual Irish fishing port for the period January 2010 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10222/21]
View answerMy Department does not possess the details sought by the Deputy in relation to all capital investment in each individual Irish fishing port for the period January 2010 to date, as my Department’s legislative remit is confined to the ownership, operation and maintenance of six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, over €148 million has been invested in this Department-owned infrastructure. Table 1 (as follows) outlines the total expenditure by my Department in relation to this Department-owned infrastructure in the years 2010 to 2021 (to date). While no final decision has been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Capital Programme, expenditure is being incurred in relation to contractual commitments and non-discretionary safety and maintenance works.
Responsibility for the maintenance and development of Local Authority-owned harbours and piers rests with each individual Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. I would advise the deputy to contact these agencies to determine the full level of investment in the marine infrastructure under the ownership of the Local Authority.
My Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Since 2010, my Department has provided funding of over €31 million to 15 coastal local authorities for development and maintenance works.
Table 2 (as follows) gives a detailed project breakdown of this funding by Local Authority in the years 2010 to 2020.
