Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
43. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will broaden the criteria of capital funding schemes under his Department to allow for funding to progress marine activity facilities such as those required at Cromane, County Kerry which he recently visited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60432/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I visited Cromane in September and I met with the Cromane Community Group to discuss the potential future development in Cromane Harbour and I believe that a shared goal exists to progress this project. Cromane Harbour Pier 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, is the primary provider of funding for local authorities.
In view of the particular importance of such facilities to the marine economy, my Department has provided funding to assist 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. Funding has always been 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. Kerry County Council securing over €200,000 to support three projects.
Recently, I received the Report of the Seafood Sector Task Force which makes recommendations to address 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 has specifically recommended an initiative of significant investment in publicly owned marine infrastructure to assist in diversification of economic opportunities to offset the effects of the TCA, particularly in communities dependent on fishing activity. Officials in my Department are actively engaged in examining what kind of mechanisms could be developed to leverage the Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding that Ireland has received for this purpose.
