Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2020
328. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application was made by Wexford County Council in 2018 for funding to repair storm damage to the slipway at Seaview, Kilmore, County Wexford that occurred in 2014; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29451/20]
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.
The responsibility for the development and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter. In the case of the slipway at Seaview, Kilmore, Wexford County Council is the responsible local authority.
As part of the Government’s overall response to the damage caused by the storms of 2013 and 2014, my Department funded coastal Local Authorities in 2014 to the tune of €5.3m to repair piers and harbours and eligible marine infrastructure, owned by them which were damaged by the storms. A further €1.2m in funding was made available in 2015 to enable Local Authorities complete storm damage projects approved in 2014, which were unfinished in 2014 due to time and other constraints. Wexford County Council received funding of €1.5m under this programme to carry out 10 storm damage repair projects. No application was received by my Department under the Storm Damage Programme in relation to the slipway at Seaview, Kilmore, Co. Wexford.
The Storm Damage Programme was an exceptional measure as part of the Government’s overall response to the damage inflicted on our national piers and harbours infrastructure during the winter storms of 2013 & 2014. Funding for the Storm Damage programme ceased in 2015.
My Department does however, provide limited funding to assist the 14 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, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
No application for funding in relation to the slipway at Seaview, Kilmore, Co. Wexford has been received by my Department under the Local Authority Programmes in the intervening years since the Storm Damage Programme. Should any application be submitted by Wexford County Council in relation to the slipway at Seaview, Kilmore under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available funds.
