Donegal has been allocated over €9.5million for the development of the Killybegs Harbour Centre and local piers and harbours upgrades.
The funding was announced today by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue.
A total of €850,000 will be granted for Local Authority piers and harbours for Donegal with 25% supported by Donegal County Council, making it the highest local piers and harbours allocation in the country.
Killybegs received €8.71m for Phase 2 of the Smooth Point Pier Extension and other works.
The largest allocations for local infrastructure in Donegal go to Leenan Slipway (€200,000) and the installation of a berthing pontoon and access gangway at Mevagh. (Full table of funding below)
In announcing the 2021 programme, Minister McConalogue said, “I am delighted to announce this €38.3 million capital investment package in our six Fishery Harbour Centres and 79 Local Authority owned piers and harbours around our coast which underlines the importance this Government places on the contribution of the wider Seafood sector to Ireland’s economy and to rural coastal communities in particular.”
In regard to the Local Authority scheme, the Minister stated, “It was important to me to place added importance on the Local Authority scheme this year and I am pleased to be to in a position to announce an enhanced €4.2 million programme in 2021 to assist Coastal Local Authorities in the repair and development of fishery and aquaculture linked marine infrastructures under their ownership. This year I have redirected savings due to Covid limitations on other projects to increase the monies available to the Local Authorities resulting in a 35% increase in 2020 allocations. Together with funding from Local Authorities, the total amount to be invested in local piers and harbours in 2021 under this scheme comes to €5.6 million.”
Minister McConologue said the funding provides a “much needed economic boost to rural coastal communities particularly in these trying times and also make them more attractive to tourists in the longer term.”
“During the pandemic, we have become more aware than ever of the importance of our outdoor spaces and local amenities. The continued upgrading and refurbishment of our local piers and harbours will support local fishers, tourism and will have numerous knock-on benefits for local economies. This again demonstrates our Government’s commitment to rural Ireland.”
Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh has also welcomed the funding and said: “I want to acknowledge the work of Minister McConalogue and Cathal Sweeney and his team from the council Piers and Harbour Section who has worked on these applications.”
“This funding will see the upgrading, repair, access to and refurbishment of our local piers and harbours, at Mevagh, Lahardan, Downings, Ballywhoriskey, Leenan Greencastle, Portnablagh, Portnoo, Bún an Inbhir, Binwee-Magheragallon, Ballyshannon and Bundoran.
“The €8.7M in funding for Killybegs will see Phase 2 of the smooth point pier extension, as well as storage, safety, maintenance and disability access works being carried out.”
“The funding for the twleve piers and harbours throughout the County will see various works carried out, such as the installation of CCTV, breakwater and slipway repairs, piers repairs and upgrades, the installation of pontoons and signage/railings works.
“This is really positive news for our rural coastal communities across Donegal, with these enhancements and upgrading of our County piers and harbours supporting fisheries, tourism and our local economies.”