Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 October 2016
169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money allocated in the budget to Balbriggan Harbour; the nature of the work to be carried out; the timescale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32500/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBalbriggan Harbour is owned by Fingal County Council and responsibility for the maintenance and development of the harbour rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter. I am unaware of the budgets set aside by those bodies for Balbriggan Harbour.
However, under the annual Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has in previous years provided funding to assist Local Authorities for small scale development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
On 13 January 2016, Local Authorities were invited to submit applications under the 2016 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. I can confirm that no application for funding for Balbriggan Harbour was received from Fingal County Council in 2016.
Any application that might be submitted by Fingal County Council in respect of Balbriggan Harbour under future programmes will be considered in the context of available funding and overall priorities.
I trust that this clarifies the position.
