Port Oriel Harbour in Clogherhead is to receive an investment of €3.3m, and Annagassan Port a further €717k, from the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme which is funded through the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, today announced the approval of the second tranche of the Brexit Adjustment: Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme under which Port Oriel in Clogherhead will receive €3m.
The majority of the funding will focus on Port Oriel Pier and will include:
- Upgrade power, lights and water systems
- Remedial and safety works to concrete pier landing area.
- Safety works
- General maintenance works
- Crane installation
- Provision of a waste and recycling area
- Dredging to original levels
- Remove waste and sludge from inner harbour/dock.
- Bollards to restrict access for safety
- Relocate existing lights at the dock and upgrade to LED lights
- Provide additional piles
- Install an electrically powered winch
- Safety works
Speaking in Clogherhead today the Minister said: “It is vital that this capital injection delivers benefits to our coastal rural communities especially with the current challenging economic environment.
“To best provide for project delivery I considered it prudent to confer additional funding to projects that have been impacted by higher-than-expected construction costs and to increase the scheme contribution thus reducing the local authority contribution.”
Welcoming the announcement local TD Fergus O’Dowd said: “This is a really fantastic outcome for both ports, in particular for Clogherhead as the council have secured multi million euro investment to dredge the waters, upgrade the ports accessibility, upgrade the lighting, provide new waste and recycling areas and for the installation of new piles and bollards.
“A further €717k has also been secured for dredging at Annagassan Port which is welcome news and will allow better access to the port.
“This announcement comes on the back of the news in April of this year that over €540k had been secured for the ports in the first tranche of the Brexit Adjustment funding. This brings the total investment from the Brexit Fund for 22-23 to over €3.16m and with a 5% contribution from the council bringing the total projected investment to €3,334,678.
“I spent the afternoon in Port Oriel with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, as he announced the approval of the second tranche of the fund.
“This is a fantastic return from the investment fund and shows the importance this government places on safeguarding our local ports into the future.
Also in Clogherhead today was Commenting on the announcement for Louth, Senator Erin McGreehan who said:
“It was a pleasure to have my colleague Minister McConalogue at Port Oriel today where he announced significant marine infrastructure funding for not just Louth but the whole country.
“Louth County Council will now receive over €3 million for works at Port Oriel and Annagassan Port. This is vital funding to revitalise our coastal infrastructure in Louth and I want to thank the Minister for his work on this. Supporting our marine infrastructure is crucial to our coastal communities who are a major asset to our local economies across Louth.”
