In a real boost to our fishing industry, Minister Coveney has announced increased funding of €5 million for a number of projects under the 2015 Fishery Harbours Capital Investment Programme, bringing the total capital investment under this programme in 2015 to €22.9 million.
I am delighted that as part of this funding, Clare County Council is to receive a total of €207,000 in funding for replacement of existing deck and rock revement on Liscannor Pier and underpinning of the pier wall in Ballyvaughan.
Of the total funding, €3.9 million has been allocated for works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres, Cape Clear and other marine infrastructures, while €1.1 million has been allocated for 17 Local Authority Harbour projects.
This funding comes just one month after the announcement that local authority piers and harbours are receiving €1.6 million in state funding under the Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure programme.
Our fishing, marine and tourism industries depend so much on this infrastructure around the coastline of Ireland, and the local community here in Liscannor and Ballyvaughan really depend on their piers.
Fine Gael is standing up for rural Ireland and working to ensure the fruits of the economic recovery are felt right across the country. Our fisheries sector is really integral to that economic recovery in Clare and Fine Gael in Government will continue to prioritise and resource the sector.