David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

973. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if vital dredging works can be funded from the recently announced €35 million piers and harbours funds at local authority managed harbours around the State including Ceann Heilbhic and Passage East in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8160/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance.  I am also mindful that the primary governance role for Local Authorities rests with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.  In recent years, my Department had made modest amounts of funding available to Local Authorities for certain coastal capital projects.  Between the years 2012 to 2021, Waterford County Council received funding of €3.5m from my Department in this regard.

This year, however, there is a new opportunity.  On 25th January, I launched a new €35m scheme exclusively for the rejuvenation of Local Authority owned public piers and harbours throughout coastal communities.  The scheme flows from a recommendation from the Seafood Taskforce which I set up last year to examine how to address the impacts arising on the seafood sector from the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

It is an unprecedented opportunity for us to invest in our publicly-owned piers and harbours to deliver safe, accessible, lasting infrastructure and thereby support economic diversification, complementing other measures such as Community Led Local Development via the Fisheries Local Action Groups around our coastline.

The Scheme is targeting shovel-ready projects to give immediate construction stimulus to the coastal communities affected by the TCA and is aiming to attract projects of up to €1m budget during 2022 and 2023.  Funding under the Scheme is confined to capital works only.  The Scheme also offers the possibility of funding larger projects where there is particular exposure to Brexit due to proximity to UK waters and loss of fishing opportunities. 

I would encourage Waterford County Council and other coastal local authorities to get their project applications together and work closely with my Department to ensure that eligible projects receive funding.