As Afloat reported earlier today, Minster McConalogue today announced that a deepwater quay facility is to be built at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhíl, Galway. The project will be funded through the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
Announcing the decision to proceed with the project, the Minister commented “Our Fishery Harbour Centres are critical to the seafood industry and Ros an Mhíl is a clear example of how these facilities stimulate economic activity for the surrounding rural coastal communities. Today’s announcement is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of Brexit on the sector and to a strong future for Ireland’s seafood primary producers.”
"In 2020 just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the Fishery Harbour Centres"
In 2020 just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the Fishery Harbour Centres. At Ros an Mhíl these landings were primarily from Irish vessels and valued at €7m. The deep-water quay being announced today will provide an additional 200m of quayside and over 70% greater depth to accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels. At present the Harbour has 325m of quayside but is limited in deep water to a maximum of -5.8m chart datum and experiences congestion in busy fishing seasons. An additional 4Ha of land with laydown/development potential will be added to the Harbour Centre as part of the works. The new facilities will bring Ros an Mhíl closer in line with those available in Killybegs and Castletownbere.
Minister Charlie McConalogue announces that a deep water quay facility is to be built at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhil, Galway. Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography
The Minister noted the commitment of local stakeholders to the project: “When I visited last October I was impressed by the ambitions held here in the local community for Ros an Mhíl. There is huge potential for downstream development and jobs when this project comes on line and I have every confidence that this opportunity will be embraced and harnessed for the benefit of Connemara.”
Planning permission for the project was received in 2017. The Department will now proceed with procurement for detailed design of the quay with a view to tendering for construction later in the year. The project is anticipated to cost up to €25m excluding VAT, but the exact costing will only be clear when detailed design work is complete and an open tendering competition has taken place. It is expected that the construction work will take up to 28 months to complete.
