Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1241. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Donegal County Council has contacted his office or his Department in relation to the need for urgent investment and urgent improvement works at Rathmullan Pier, County Donegal. [52940/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in my response to the Deputy's recent Parliamentary Question on this matter, Rathmullan 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.
Regular informal discussions are held between officials of Donegal County Council and officials of the Marine Engineering Division of my Department regarding a number of piers in County Donegal, including Rathmullan.
My Department provides funding, under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, to assist coastal Local Authorities, including Donegal County Council, in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways . No application for funding in relation to Rathmullan Pier was received under this year’s Programme.
Recently, I received the Final Report of the Seafood Sector Task Force which was set up earlier this year to examine the impacts on the fishing sector and coastal communities of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The Taskforce has recommended an initiative for the development of publicly owned marine infrastructure and I have asked my Department officials to urgently examine the Report.
Should an application be submitted by Donegal County Council in relation to Rathmullan Pier under any future Programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the particular scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available Exchequer funding.
