Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has conveyed his deep frustration at the Government’s latest response to his questions on the funding and development of Greencastle Harbour and Breakwater.
He has accused the Government of “continuously passing the buck” between departments.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said he potential of Greencastle Harbour is immense from a fisheries and tourism perspective and it must be fully realised so that we can grow our economy and jobs in North Inishowen.
“The Greencastle Harbour Users Commitee have a clear vision for the future of this vital amenity and it is long past time that the Government stepped up and met them half way.
“Millions of euro has been spent on a half-finished breakwater. This is a ridiculous waste of public money if it is not completed. The Department of the Marine commenced the project and are now trying to wash their hands of responsibility for it’s completion”.
“Worse, every time I have put questions to the Minister for the Marine about the completion of the breakwater and the development of the harbour, his department have continuously passed the buck to Donegal County Council and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government who fund local authorities. Then when I have raised the funding with the Minister that oversees that department, they pass the buck back to the Department of the Marine. As they say, you couldn’t write the script!”
He concluded “Earlier this year, I attended a public meeting on this subject that was packed with members of the local community in Greencastle and North Inishowen. I made it clear at that meeting that the Minister for the Marine needed to ensure that the completion of Greencastle Breakwater and the development of Greencastle Harbour was included in the Government’s Capital Plan for works up until 2021. The latest response from the Minister is just more of the same.
The full potential of Greencastle Harbour needs to be realised and I intend to maintain the fight for government funding in support of the local campaigners”.
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