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Minister Charlie McConalogue has told the Dáíl that repairs to the Polawaddy harbour slipway on Arranmore Island should be a priority. Photo: IIMRO
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue TD, has today told the Dáíl that repairs to the Polawaddy harbour slipway on Arranmore Island should be a priority.
The Donegal coast has been battered by Atlantic storms in recent weeks but after Storm Franklin on Monday this week, the harbour slipway on the island suffered extensive damage, which has made the access to the sea unusable.
Answering a question from a fellow Donegal Deputy, Independent TD, Thomas Pringle he said:
“In the first instance, Donegal County Council as the local authority who manages the pier and harbour will and are assessing it and certainly will do a full assessment of the the impact and the repair requirement and I’ve no doubt will engage when is appropriate with myself and government in relation to the challenge which is there.
“It is important, obviously, that the work is carried out as promptly as possible to ensure that this is repaired. I know that the the islanders will be well represented as well in terms of engaging with Donegal County Council and the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, a really important producer organisation on behalf of inshore fishers and particularly on behalf of the islanders.”
The Minister paid tribute to the IIMRO saying:
“I was glad last year to be able to work to ensure that they would get producer organisation status, which I believe was a big step forward for inshore fishers and for islanders in particular, and since they have received full producer organisation status, both of their Chairman, Jerry Early and their CEO Seamus Bonner, they have been a tremendous advocate in her national fishing scene for islanders and inshore fishers, and no more so than on this particular issue as well on Polawaddy Pier. I’ve no doubt they will be also engaging and working with the local authority to have the the issue can fully considered.”
by Oliver McBride
