The Irish Marine Minister, Charlie McConalogue, has announced the allocation of €12.7m to fund 15 marine infrastructure projects.

These projects will address the impact of Brexit on Irish coastal communities and will be delivered by local authorities. Under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022-2023, these projects were previously put forward by the local authorities.

The Minister praised the Local Authorities for their commitment to delivering projects through the BALAMI Scheme. He stated that, by the end of 2023, the government had delivered €37.8m in funding to support the delivery of 148 capital projects across the Irish coast. These projects will provide immediate economic stimulus to address the impact of Brexit, as well as lasting infrastructure to underpin long-term resilience.

The BALAMI Scheme approved up to €55.3m for 164 marine infrastructure projects located in 13 coastal local authorities. The Seafood Taskforce recommended the Scheme to support local authorities to rejuvenate Ireland's coastal and marine infrastructure, specifically to address the economic consequences of Brexit arising from the implications to the Irish fishing industry.

Despite delivery challenges for some approved projects, including consenting, procurement, supply chain, and weather windows for works, the government has approved 2024 projects on the basis of their capacity to be delivered in 2024. The selection also took into account their ongoing relevance to addressing the impacts of Brexit on Ireland's fishing industry.

Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Projects 2022-2024

The Minister noted that the government has engaged with the European Commission on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve funding and has secured the maximum flexibility possible into early 2024. He considers it vital to progress these projects in the post-Brexit era and wants to see delivery optimized to align with BAR.

The Minister concluded by emphasizing the significant social and economic importance of seafood to Ireland, which continues to play a vital role in the sustainable economic viability of many coastal communities across the country. He added that these projects will help to provide diversification opportunities for those coastal communities that have been particularly affected by the consequences of Brexit.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is administering the Scheme, and each local authority is responsible for the governance and delivery of its own projects.

The 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 (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023, bringing total funding for the Scheme to €55.3m for 164 projects around the Irish coast.

The 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 (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023, bringing total funding for the Scheme to EUR55.3m for 164 projects around the Irish coast. The Minister is pictured at Port Oriel Co. Louth with (from left) Seamus Connolly, Clogherhead Fishermens Association, Senator Erin McGreehan and Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd. Photo: Fennell Photography

Today, Minister McConalogue approved funding for 54 new projects; provided additional funding for 19 previously approved projects which had requested additional funding in light of cost increases, and raised the rate of funding provided for all projects to 95%.

Additional funding for the Greencastle breakwater project of €4.6m was announced in September this year, with almost €32m funding announced in April 2022; the new funding announced today is over €18.9m.

Beeves Rock lighthouse on the Shannon Estuary. Clare County Council will install an 11-buoy Shannon Estuary Visitor Mooring Buoy system for €33,375 as part of the Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022 – 2023 Photo: Afloat

To optimise the opportunity presented by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to help the seafood sector adapt to the impacts of Brexit through modernised public marine facilities, the Minister decided to increase the funding rate offered in this Scheme to a maximum of 95% of the eligible projects. All projects approved under the Scheme will benefit from this rate; the remaining 5% must be provided by the local authority from its own resources.

The 'Ice House' at the Coal Quay is being removed at Dun Laoghaire Harbour in County Dublin under the Brexit Scheme at €125,000 Photo: Afloat

Commenting on the increased scheme contribution, the Minister stated: “It is vital that this capital injection delivers benefits to our coastal rural communities, especially with the 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.

The South Quay at Wicklow Harbour benefits from pontoon Installation at €52,000 Photo: Afloat

The Scheme, which provides funding to local authorities to revitalise Ireland’s public marine infrastructure, is proposed for funding under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Conferring the approval for the funding of the projects, the Minister commented: “This second call returned an equally impressive number of applications. I now ask the local authorities to prioritise delivery on all projects so that this important economic stimulus can be delivered. The BAR funding is only available until the end of 2023, and this is a unique opportunity to reinvigorate our public marine infrastructure.”

In County Galway, Roundstone harbour will benefit from the installation of access ladders and the repair/replacement of handrails at €55,000

The Scheme arose from a recommendation of the Seafood Taskforce, set up in March 2021 to look at the impacts specifically on the fishing sector and coastal communities. Post Brexit regeneration has been identified by the Seafood Taskforce as a key enabler for offsetting the implications of Brexit on the Irish fishing industry. This Scheme is designed to support economic sectors, businesses and local communities and to support job creation and protection by distributing Brexit Adjustment Reserve funds to enhance, upgrade, modernise and develop Ireland’s publicly owned coastal and marine infrastructure to facilitate diversification of economic opportunities. 

The Minister added that: “This funding will support local authorities to rejuvenate Ireland’s coastal and marine infrastructure specifically to address the economic consequences of Brexit arising from the implications to the Irish fishing industry. Again, I must acknowledge the co-operation and engagement between local authorities, coastal communities and political representatives to make this happen.”

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is administering the Scheme. Each local authority is responsible for governance and delivery of its own projects.

Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme (BALAMI) 2022

The above table is also downloadable below as a pdf file and  provides details of the 164 capital projects across 13 Coastal Local Authorities approved for funding in 2022-2023

Minister for Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith and Minister of State Sean Connick have met one of the world’s biggest seafood companies to discuss the potential for expansion of the industry in Ireland, The Irish Times reports.

Marine Harvest, which presently employs 250 people in Ireland and 5,000 worldwide, hopes to produce 10-12,000 tonnes of premium salmon for export from its fish farms in Donegal, Mayo, Cork and Kerry in 2012.

The company sees potential to double its production and employment in Ireland over the next 10 years and discussed with the ministers how the marine infrastructure can best accommodate this.

“I see enormous potential for the expansion of both finfish and shellfish aquaculture," said Minister Connick.