Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
369. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has a multi-annual programme for the development of the fishery harbours owned by his Department; the location in which details of this programme are published; the amount allocated to the programme in the current national development plan; if it is planned to review the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10827/21]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. 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 by my Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres by way of the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. To clarify for the Deputy, this programme is operated on an annual basis and not on a multi-annual basis. While some larger projects by their very nature carry over into subsequent years, these are treated as contractual commitments in the capital programme and funding is made available for these commitments on an annual basis.
Each year, full details of the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme are made public. €30 million has been allocated to my Department’s 2021 Programme, and while no final decisions have been made in relation to the composition of the 2021 Programme, I hope to make an announcement on this shortly.
The National Development Plan 2018-2027 (NDP) sets out a 10-year programme of capital investment aimed at upgrading Ireland’s infrastructure, enhancing economic capacity and promoting balanced regional development. Under the NDP, a capital investment programme of up to €180 million across all six Fishery Harbour Centres, encompassing ongoing safety and maintenance and necessary new developments, is set out for commencement up to 2022. Ongoing improvements will be required thereafter. A review of the NDP is currently being undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform and my Department is participating in this review process.
