An investment of €540,000 for five harbours in Mayo was announced this week by the Government.
The harbours that will benefit from the investment are Newport Quay, Bundorragha, Killala, Ballina, and Killerduff.
The news of the investment was welcomed this week by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and he outlined some of the works involved.
“Newport Quay will benefit from repairs to the sea walls and Bundorragha will gain from the construction of a new slipway along with the widening and extending of the pier. Killala Harbour will benefit from repairs to the harbour deck and slipway; Ballina Harbour will see the harbour deck and walls repaired; and Killerduff Harbour will gain improvements to the slipway and quay wall.”
Ballina based Fine Gael TD, Michelle Mulherin said after the announcement: “This funding, for ongoing maintenance and development of piers and harbours, is crucial for ensuring their long term sustainability. Our local fishing industry depends so much on this infrastructure. Some of the funding is also being set aside for leisure marine development of our piers and harbours, which are so integral to our local tourism industry.”
She continued: “The funding announcement comes on top of a grant in February for the repair of Mayo piers and harbours that were badly damaged during the storms last winter. This funding comes from the 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme of the Department of Agriculture and the Marine. Local authorities will also contribute to the cost of the projects. We are committed to supporting coastal communities in Mayo where people’s livelihoods are so dependent on the sea.”
