The government has announced a Capital Investment Package of €35.7 million to support the development of the national harbour network, a €9.4m increase on the final expenditure of last year.

The funding will be used to boost the ongoing development of Ireland's six Fishery Harbour Centres and other fisheries related marine infrastructure.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, announced details of the initiative today, 28 January.

The Annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme provides funding for safety, maintenance and new development works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros An Mhíl and Killybegs. The primary function of the Fishery Harbour Centres is to underpin the ongoing development of the fisheries and seafood processing sectors while also facilitating other diverse marine related activities.

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Flagship projects in the 2019 Capital Programme include the continuation of the Dinish Island quay extension at Castletownbere (€17.5m in 2019), the Smooth Point extension Phase 2 at Killybegs (€4.0m in 2019) and the provision of additional berthing space on the Middle Pier in Howth (€4.5m in 2019).

The Minister said: "This €35.7m investment will build on the €96m invested in the Fishery Harbour Centres since 2010 and the €27m invested in the Local Authority infrastructure over the same period. Improving the standards of facilities at our Fishery Harbour Centres and other public harbours around our coast attracts increasing and additional economic activities, benefitting a broad cohort of current and future harbour users including the fishing industry, seafood processing sector, other ancillary marine industries, and the wider rural coastal communities."

(CM/MH)