Written answer
Harbours and Piers
The Minister outlined local authorities’ responsibility for piers and harbours and provided annual funding sought, allocated and drawn down under LAMIS and BALAMI.
136. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total capital funding sought, allocated and drawn down for harbours and piers in each county in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and for the period 1 January to 31 August in 2025 and 2026, broken down by funding programme and local authority, in tabular form. [67609/26]
Comment on this
The Department is responsible for six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl. It also maintains North Harbour at Cape Clear and a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons nationwide.
Responsibility for developing and maintaining piers, harbours and slipways owned by local authorities rests with the relevant local authority. However, subject to available funding, the Department supports eligible capital works through the annual Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (LAMIS), administered under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and funded by the Exchequer.
LAMIS projects must support the Department’s objectives for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and coastal rural communities. Eligible works include harbour development and marine leisure infrastructure, such as quays, piers, slipways, floating pontoons and associated equipment. Under this scheme, the Department provides co-funding towards eligible project costs, in accordance with the scheme arrangements applying in the relevant year. In 2026, reimbursement of up to 75% of eligible costs is available, subject to a maximum contribution of €187,500 per project. Local authorities are responsible for the balance.
Between 2022 and 2024 my Department administered the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI) Scheme and co-funded up to 95% of eligible costs for approved projects. The BALAMI Scheme gave effect to one of the recommendations of the Seafood Sector Taskforce established to address the impacts of Brexit on the seafood sector. The LAMIS scheme was not administered during the timeframe of the BALAMI scheme.
The table attached sets out by year and programme, the funding sought, allocated and drawn down by each local authority for the specified periods.
Local Authority Funding