I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue, which is the need for the Minister with responsibility for the marine to outline the actions that can be taken as interim, medium and long-term measures to ensure harbour and vessel safety at Greencastle breakwater in County Donegal and the role of the new marine body in prioritising and supporting the development of marine infrastructure to support job creation.
I am delighted the Minister for State, Deputy Sargent, will take this Adjournment matter and I will provide him with a brief outline of the issue. The existing harbour at Greencastle had difficulties with particular prevailing winds and needed a breakwater to address the issues of the inner harbour and to facilitate larger boats which tie up at Killybegs because they physically cannot get into Greencastle. It is a very busy harbour because not only does it have fishing vessels, it also has a small amount of marine leisure activity. Is has the RNLI, cliff sea rescue, pilot boats and the Magilligan to Greencastle car ferry. Magilligan has just been moved from international to domestic status but that is another day's work we achieved.
At present, there is a project at Greencastle that will cost €36 million overall but a difficulty has arisen. We have spent €5 million but there is a particular point at which things are at their most dangerous and the money for this year seems to have dried up. However, what has been achieved will be consolidated. At present, the breakwater is out a certain level and is above the water in certain tides but it is causing difficulties because it is changing the course of the tide and making it dangerous for all vessels using Greencastle Harbour. I am not saying this because we want to cause bother. This project is at a stage where for health and safety reasons it needs to be completed. It is well-started but not far enough out to deal with the currents and tides in operation at that point. It is at its most dangerous. Rock armour will be put in place to try to hold what we have. We do not want to have spent €5 million on a breakwater to realise that the tidal impacts over the coming months will remove the work already done. We do not want to lose the money that has been spent.
We understand that contractual arrangements are in place for some harbours that are a priority. However, if a sum of hundreds of thousands of euro became available we could spend it. It is not a case that the money would be returned to the Department unspent. We are constantly able to bring in more stone for the breakwater to continue this project. In the interim term we are seeking a commitment that should moneys become available, they will be given to this project. We promise to spend them if they do. We also ask that in the 2010 budget priority would be afforded to this project for health and safety reasons. Many of the projects under contractual arrangements will finish by the end of this year and we seek an interim commitment that we will become the priority for 2010.
The changes in Area 6 have been very difficult for the fishermen who have been given perhaps three days a month to fish but have loans of €200,000 on their boats. Over the coming years, one will have to establish one's right to fish in Area 6 and we know Greencastle Harbour will be a very busy port. I am not here to argue the case for work on Greencastle Harbour. It has already been made, sanctioned by the Department of Finance, started and therefore will be finished. It is that there is a potential danger to health and safety from leaving the work the way it is and we need short, medium and long-term projections of what we can do.
I welcome that there will be a consolidation of the overall marine infrastructure. It was ridiculous to have seven different Ministries dealing with it which made progress in an island nation impossible. I wish it well but I hope it will have a role in being able to give us clear indications on the priorities, how they have become priorities and that where dangers arise, as they have in Greencastle, they can be addressed. We all believe in the future of our coastal communities and the importance of the marine sector not only to Donegal but to all coastal communities.
