Paltry investment in Clare piers and harbours revealed

FRESH efforts to boost local piers, harbours and slipways could receive support this year, according to Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD.

It follows the release of new figures which show that the allocation to this county over the past nine years was less than €2 million.

Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the matter with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Dáil, asking him to outline plans to support marine infrastructure in this county.

Responding, Minister Charlie McConalogue admitted that funding provision in recent times had been “modest”.

However, he urged Clare County Council to prepare applications for a new fund launched by his Department earlier this year.

“The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority-owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance,” Minister McConalogue told Deputy Crowe.

“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, Clare County Council received funding of €1.75m from my Department in this regard.”

Minister McConalogue said that the situation was set to change with the unveiling in January of a €35m scheme exclusively for the rejuvenation of Local Authority-owned public piers and harbours in 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),” he said.

“In keeping with the Taskforce recommendation, this scheme is being proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve and will run throughout 2022 and 2023.”

The minister acknowledged the challenges facing the sector, particularly in light of Britain’s exit from the EU.

“Brexit has and will continue to affect our seafood sector in a unique way compared to other industries,” he acknowledged.

“This scheme 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.”

Minister McConalogue urged Clare County Council to identify and promote shovel-ready projects for which funding applications could be submitted.

“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,” he said.

“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 Clare County Council and the other coastal local authorities to get their project applications together and work closely with my Department to ensure that eligible projects receive funding.”

By Fiona McGarry