197. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the project undertaken by Galway City Council to repair the slipway in Salthill that allows wheelchair access to the beach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44500/26]

The responsibility for the development and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter. Accordingly, Salthill is under the remit of Galway City Council and the responsibility to facilitate wheelchair access to the beach rests with the Council.

While my Department as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, does provide limited discretionary funding to coastal Local Authorities for the implementation of small-scale projects focused on the development and repair of piers, harbours, and slipways under their ownership such projects must support the core objectives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in supporting the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.