Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
437. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Office of Public Works, OPW, will intervene and enable remedial works to be completed at Inishmurray Island, County Sligo in order to allow the Marine Survey Office, MSO, to allow small passenger boats to bring persons to and from the island again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27680/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
My legislative remit does not extend to Inishmurray Island.
The pier on Inishmurray Island is the responsibility of Sligo 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, Planning, Community and Local Government thereafter.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities 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.
Sligo County Council successfully secured a funding allocation of €147,000 under the 2018 Programme for development works; however no application for funding was made to my Department in relation to Inishmurray Island.
Any application submitted by Sligo County Council in relation to Inishmurray Island in the future would be given due consideration in the context of the criteria set out, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
