A €1.1 million extension of the pier and slipway at Portaleen, Inishowen, has been described by Donegal minister, Charlie McConalogue, as a major boost for the peninsula.
Speaking following a visit to the pier in Glengad, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: “I was delighted to have secured funding of €1.1 million for this project through my role as Minister for the Marine. Portaleen Pier is an important piece of marine infrastructure for Inishowen.”
He said that the project “will help to provide diversification opportunities for those coastal communities that have been particularly affected by the consequences of Brexit”
“Seafood has always been of significant social and economic importance to Inishoowen and Donegal and continues to play a vital role in the sustainable economic viability of many coastal communities across the county,” the Minister said.
“As Minister for the Marine over the last four years, I have delivered funding for 25 pier and harbour projects across Donegal. Of the €50 million spent on Donegal County Council owned piers and harbours nationally, €28 million, or 56%, of the total has been spent in Donegal.”
“I also increased the percentage of project costs that are covered by department grants from 70% to 95% to reduce county council co-funding requirements. This has seen the completion of long-awaited projects such as Portsalon Pier renewal at a cost of over €1.5 million, while Rathmullan Pier is nearing completion with an investment of over €4 million,” the Donegal minister commented.
“I’d like to commend Donegal County Council on its commitment to delivering these key projects and I was delighted to perform the official openings of Bunbeg and Portsalon in recent months. These piers and harbours are extremely important to their respective communities,” Minister McConalogue added.