Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
831. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to Malinbeg pier, Malinbeg, Glencolmcille, County Donegal to carry out maintenance and upgrade the pier to a safe standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15388/20]
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 Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Malinbeg Pier is owned by Donegal 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 thereafter.
However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provides limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between 2010 and 2019, €28.2 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme, with Donegal County Council having received funding of € 3.1m during this period.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding of €3.1m has been approved for the Local Authority element of my Department’s 2020 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Donegal County Council has secured €433,500 of funding for eleven projects under this year’s programme.
One of the approved projects under this year’s programme is for upgrade works to be carried out at the slipway in Malinbeg. It is proposed by Donegal County Council to replace the existing electric winch with an electro-hydraulic winch, which is deemed to be more suitable to this location. This project has received funding approval of €22,500 from my Department.
