Following on from his March announcement of the scheme to provide investment in publicly owned marine infrastructure, Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine Timmy Dooley, TD, has announced the allocation of funding of €4.33 million for 57 local authority projects across eleven coastal local authorities.
The funding will assist the coastal local authorities in the maintenance and development of fishery and aquaculture linked marine infrastructure in their ownership.
Commenting on the importance of the investment, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, said: “This year’s package of €4.33 million is the largest allocation to the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme outside of the BALAMI Scheme, and it will improve the facilities and amenities for the wider marine community in these often rural coastal areas, with positive knock on-effects for fishers, tourism and local economies. This investment demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to rural and coastal Ireland.”
Minister Dooley commented: “This Government has vowed to invest in our State Fishery Harbour Centres and public marine infrastructure. I am delighted, therefore, to announce allocation of €4.33 million to 11 local authorities, which will fund 57 projects supporting maritime communities right across Ireland’s coastline. The increased total value of individual projects in this year’s allocation gives local authorities the opportunity to continue the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour and fishing facilities, also allowing for some marine leisure developments, benefitting different cohorts of users.”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will administer the programme and will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs, up to a maximum reimbursement of €187,500, with the local authority co-funding the remaining costs.
Minister Dooley concluded by saying: “I am heartened by the large number of applications, by the diverse, multi-purpose nature of the projects and by the commitment shown by the local authorities in the delivery of such vital projects and I encourage local authorities to submit their claims before the November deadline.”
