L to R: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD; Harold McLoughlin, Harbour Master Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD; Eimear Coughlan, Principal Officer, Sea Fisheries Administration, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; at today’s announcement of the funding for Fishery Harbour Centres and public marine infrastructure.
Ministers Heydon and Dooley announce €27 million in funding for Fishery Harbour Centres and public marine infrastructure
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, today announced the allocation of €27 million for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly-owned harbours through the 2026 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
Speaking at the announcement in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, Minister Heydon said: “The 2026 Programme represents a major investment by Government in the ongoing development, modernisation and sustainability of Ireland’s fishery harbours and coastal infrastructure. The programme will support critical works across the six state-owned fishery harbour centres, improving safety, operational efficiency, environmental performance and climate resilience.”
Minister of State Dooley added: “Announcing this programme further demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to supporting our fishing, seafood and wider maritime sectors through sustained and targeted investment in modern, safe and resilient harbour infrastructure. These investments are essential to ensuring that our harbours remain fit for purpose, can support economic activity in coastal communities, and can meet the challenges posed by climate change and increased operational demands.”
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The Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme, which forms part of the 2026 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, provides funding for a wide range of shovel-ready capital projects, such as pier repairs, slipway upgrades, safety improvements and enhancement of marine leisure facilities. Under the scheme, the Department will co-fund up to 75% of the eligible project costs with the local authority providing the balance.
Commenting on the Local Authority funding allocation, Minister Dooley said: “I’m happy 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. The funding provision for 2026, which stands at €4.3 million, matches last year’s allocation which allowed local authorities to successfully complete 51 projects.”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be responsible for administering the programme and will engage closely with coastal local authorities to ensure that all approved project schemes are allocated the required funding upon completion.
