Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans sanctioning the building of a deep-water pier in Ros a’ Mhíl soon in order that it can be built before the planning for the pier runs out in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26489/21]
View answerThe Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHC), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.
Funding is made available on an annual basis by the Department to the Fishery Harbour Centres, including Ros an Mhíl, via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. A phased programme for the infrastructural development of Ros an Mhíl FHC has been progressed over the last number of years, which has seen a significant investment. In total, approx €31.6m has been invested in capital developments at Ros an Mhíl FHC between 2000 and 2020. In addition, in excess of €1.09m has been allocated for capital works in the harbour in 2021.
The possibility of a deep-water berthing project at Ros an Mhíl FHC has been mooted for some time. The Department commissioned DKM consultants to conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis into the development of a deep water quay at Ros an Mhíl. A draft report was submitted to the Department in June 2017.
Since the report was drafted, there have been changes to some of the fundamentals underpinning the original analysis. In 2018, the Department subsequently commissioned engineering consultants to undertake a review of the design solutions, scoping options and operational aspects of a possible future project. An interim draft of the Quay Wall Peer Review Report was received in April 2019. This report identified the need for additional site investigations to be carried out in Ros an Mhíl.
These site investigation works were carried out in August/September 2019 and have now been completed. The final Quay Wall Peer Review report was received in July 2020 and was further updated and re-issued in Sept 2020. The Department is now considering the final report including the site investigation results to inform a future assessment of possible design solutions and scoping options, which will, in themselves, inform any future decisions on progressing this project.
Depending on the scoping option chosen project costs could reach an estimated €29m.
In that light, I have allocated €100,000 in the 2021 Development Programme to further explore the potential and benefits of a Deep Water Quay project.
Planning permission has been obtained for this project, which is valid until April 2023, and should it be necessary a further application can be submitted.
No decision to progress this project to works stage has been made to date and, as is the case with all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres generally, any future decision with regard to formally initiating this project in Ros an Mhíl FHC, will only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities.
