Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
282. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline any requests he has received from local authority-owned fisheries harbours for funding for capital improvement works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26872/23]
View answerI established the Seafood Sector Taskforce to address the impacts arising on the seafood sector from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. In January 2022, I launched the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme 2022-2023 exclusively for the rejuvenation of local authority owned public piers and harbours based on the recommendations of the Taskforce Report. The scheme is a unique initiative designed to support job creation and protection by distributing Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop publicly owned coastal and marine infrastructure to facilitate diversification of economic opportunities.
In April 2022, I announced initial funding of €31.7m under the scheme for 110 projects. Following the second call for applications in December 2022, I increased this funding to €55.3m including approval for 54 additional projects and a higher rate of funding for all projects. Details of the funding allocated is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/01fd7-mcconalogue-announces-increased-brexit-investment-in-public-marine-infrastructure-total-now-553m/.
Applications for funding to complete capital works under the Scheme were submitted by the local authorities to my Department and the window for submission is now closed and all funding under the Scheme has been awarded. All eligible projects were approved for funding.
The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance. I am also mindful that the primary governance role for local authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
