Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
228. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of pier projects that were delivered by his Department in 2025, in particular piers that were extended or redeveloped. [4791/26]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. It also has responsibility for Cape Clear, and some Piers, Lights and Beacons.
In March 2025, I announced a capital investment package of €27.75 million under the 2025 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. This allocation provided funding for capital commitments in respect of a number of ongoing projects, as well as funding to facilitate the planned commencement of certain new projects. It also included an allocation for a Local Authority Marine Infrastructure scheme. Projects funded through this scheme are delivered by the local authorities themselves.
Many projects supported under the Fishery Harbour Centre Programme are multi-annual in nature. Accordingly, no pier extension or redevelopment projects were completed and delivered by my Department during 2025.
Notwithstanding this, my Department has delivered several significant pier development projects in recent years, including works at Dinish Pier Castletownbere (€48 million, officially opened 2023), Fisher’s Pier Howth (€10 million, officially opened 2023), and Smooth Point Killybegs (€35 million, officially opened 2024).
In addition, the Deep-Water Quay project at Ros an Mhíl remains in development, and it is anticipated that construction will recommence in mid-2026, subject to the necessary approvals and funding arrangements.
All capital projects are subject to rigorous project management processes including design, tender action and implementation stages, and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructural Guidelines. Additionally, all contractual projects are subject to the applicable conditions of contract and, as such, it is necessary to follow due process in accordance with such conditions.
I will continue to prioritise investment in Fishery Harbour Centres and coastal infrastructure to support the fishing and wider maritime sectors.
