Killybegs in Donegal is one of Ireland's main seafood hubs.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
Ireland's Minister of State for Fisheries, Timmy Dooley, has announced a €27.75 million funding package to upgrade and develop Ireland’s publicly owned fishery harbours and coastal infrastructure under the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
The investment will benefit all six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres -Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East, and Howth - as well as various local authority-owned marine facilities across the country.
According to government figures, each year around 87% of all fish landings in Ireland arrive at the Fishery Harbour Centres, an important part of the Irish seafood industry which was in 2023 valued at more than €1.2 billion.
Speaking from Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Minister Dooley said the facilities available at Ireland's Fishery Harbour Centres "play a vital role for the Irish seafood sector", and emphasised that the ongoing investment "reflects the government's steadfast dedication to bolstering the fishing industry and supporting rural coastal communities."
“The Fishery Harbour Centres also serve a variety of marine commercial enterprises, encompassing commercial cargo operations, cruise ships, dining establishments, and various water-based leisure, tourism, and social pursuits. The 2025 programme is critical to ensuring funding for a diverse suite of projects and continues this government’s commitment to rural development, building on the success of previous programmes," Dooley added.
The programme also includes €4.3 million allocated specifically to local authorities through the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme, in support of maintenance, repairs, and the development of harbour facilities. Local authorities will receive up to 75% co-funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Minister confirmed.
"I am delighted to announce the continuation of our programme to assist coastal local authorities in the repair and development of fishery and aquaculture linked marine infrastructures under their ownership," Dooley said.
"The local authority owned harbours targeted by the 2025 programme play a critical role in the social and economic wellbeing of rural coastal communities. In addition to an immediate employment spin-off during the works, this funding contributes to the ongoing development of fishing related activities, increasing participation in marine leisure and supplementing measures to attract greater numbers of tourists which ultimately create the environment for sustainable job creation opportunities in rural locations," he added.
Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will oversee the rollout of the programme and collaborate with coastal local authorities to ensure efficient and effective delivery of approved projects.
