Minister John Browne has announced funding of over €23 million for the Development Programme for Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Projects.

The funding is being allocated to projects that have been identified as priorities by both the Local Authorities and the Department's Engineering Division.

The total investment at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre this year is in excess of €9.5m - which includes an allocation of €8m for the new quay construction works. The development of the harbour will allow for larger vessels carrying deeper draft and will accommodate all of the new modern vessels which have entered the Castletownbere fleet.

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Minister Browne also confirmed that investment at Greencastle will continue in 2008. Grant aid of €3.6m has been approved for Donegal County Council which will enable continued progress on the construction of the breakwater at Greencastle.

This project is being carried out and managed on behalf of Donegal County Council by the Department's Engineers "whose expertise and experience in this type of work is widely acknowledged as being of the highest standard."

In addition to the funding of the six main Fishery Harbour Centres and the Greencastle project, the 2008 programme also proposes significant expenditure on various small harbours. These are harbours around our coastline under Local Authority control that both supplement and underpin the activities undertaken in our larger harbours.

"The harbours themselves are of great importance and enable the provision of employment and economic support to coastal communities," Mr Browne said.

The value of the contribution made by these harbours is acknowledged in the Department's allocation of over €6m in grant aid.

The Minister advised that in addition to the Programme announced today he hopes to be in a position to shortly announce significant funding for the construction of pontoons at Ross an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre.

(VB/JM)