Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
599. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that was spent in 2016 on improvements to Canower Pier, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34740/21]
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.
Canower Pier is owned by Galway 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.
My Department provides funding to assist the coastal Local Authorities, including Galway County Council, 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. Between the years 2010-2020, Galway County Council has received funding of €3.8m under this programme.
I am unaware of the total monies spent on improvements to Canower Pier in 2016 by Galway County Council who, as I have stated, are responsible for the piers upkeep and would advise the Deputy to contact the Council directly in that regard.
However, as part of the 2016 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department provided €86,469 to Galway County Council for the slipway and access refurbishment works at Canower Pier.
Funding of €4.2m has been approved for the Local Authority element of my Department’s 2021 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Galway County Council secured funding of €345k under this year’s programme to undertake six Harbour Development projects.
No application for funding in relation to Canower Pier was received under this year’s programme.
Should any application be submitted by Galway County Council in relation to Canower Pier 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.
