Contractors L&M Keating have been appointed to carry out work on the 216m long quay development project and associated works on Dinish Island, Castletownbere.

The €23.5 million contract has been signed and the project will double the workable quay space on Dinish Island.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, said: "In approving this development, I have taken account of the unprecedented success of the previous development in increasing fish landings to Castletownbere. That success has resulted in the need for a further major expansion to manage current activity levels and future proof the harbour for major expansion.

-- Advertisement --

"Government Policy is to substantially increase the landings into Ireland from all vessels that fish in the waters around Ireland. We want to see Ireland become the hub for all the marine activities that can be generated by the sustainable harvesting of these renewable resources in our marine sphere. Developing our Fishery Harbour Centres, such as Castletownbere, to facilitate our industry and be able to attract and handle these landings is a key step in achieving our ambitions in this area, in line with the Governments integrated marine development strategy 'Harnessing our Ocean Wealth'."

(CD)