Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
67. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the prospects of the provision of a landing facility at Cromane, County Kerry following his recent visit; his views on the next steps in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51649/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I recently visited Cromane and met with the Cromane Community Group to discuss the potential future development in Cromane Harbour and I advised that there are funding mechanisms within my Department that could support the project in the future. That said, Cromane Harbour is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter.
My Department provides funding to assist the coastal Local Authorities, including Kerry County Council, 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, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. Between the years 2010-2020, Kerry County Council has received funding of €1.9m under this programme. In May I was pleased to announce a 35% increase in the funding being made available to Local Authorities from the 2021 Programme, with Kerry County Council securing funding of over €200,000 to support three projects.
Recently, I received the final report of the Seafood Sector Task Force that I established in March this year. The Taskforce examined the impacts on the fishing sector and coastal communities of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The Taskforce is recommending an initiative for the development of publicly owned marine infrastructure and I have asked my Department to urgently examine the report.
Should any application be submitted by Kerry County Council in relation to Cromane under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available Exchequer funding.
