Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s maximum contribution under the local authority element of the coastal infrastructure and development fund will be increased beyond €200,000; if the requirement of 25% match funding from the local authority will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40380/21]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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, the 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.
As you are aware, the responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance, and the parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter.
However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, the Department has, in previous years, provided funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Since 2010, over €31 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.
This scheme does not remove the overall responsibility of the Local Authorities to provide funding to maintain the Marine infrastructure under their ownership.
Under this year’s programme, I have approved funding of €4.2m to assist coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 79 small scale development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.
The Local Authority element of our capital programme co-funds up to 75% of the total cost of approved projects (subject to a maximum overall project cost of €200,000) with the Local Authority providing the balance. The limit was increased from €150,000 to €200,000 in 2020.
By increasing the maximum allowable funding available to a project this would inevitably reduce the number of projects that could be co-funded, and the broad geographical benefits of this funding.
As the clear focus of the Local Authority scheme is on small scale capital works, there are no plans to increase the Departments contribution levels per project at this time, however I will keep this position under review.
