Marine tourism boost with €5.8M for essential works
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has allocated €5.8 million for essential works at six regional harbours, giving marine tourism a boost at these locations.
Minister Varadkar said the funding will benefit the local economy, promote leisure activities and support the fishing industry.
“I am pleased to announce much-needed funding for essential works at these regional harbours in 2012. The funding is being allocated in recognition of the transfer of these harbours to their local authorities, having been managed centrally by the Government for many years.
“The transfer of these harbours will allow their full potential to be realised as tourism destinations, as valuable leisure amenities, in the fisheries sector, and to a limited extent through cargo freight.”
The funding has been allocated to the following harbours:
Arklow €1,750,000
Baltimore & Skibbereen €1,250,000
Bantry Bay €140,000
Kinsale €1,250,000
Tralee & Fenit €750,000
Wexford €700,000
The funding has been concentrated on remedial works to ensure that the harbours are in a fit condition during their transfer to local authority control. Twelve out of the 13 regional harbours have transferred to date, with 11 being taken over by local authorities, and one designated a fisheries harbour.
