The completion of the Greencastle Harbour Breakwater Project has been described by Donegal Minister Charlie McConalogue as a “game changer for the local fishing community”.
Speaking following a recent tour of the €25 million project, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: “It was great to see the finishing touches being put to Greencastle Harbour Breakwater Project which is going to be of tremendous benefit to the fishing community in Greencastle. I very much welcome its completion.
“I was delighted to get the opportunity to visit Greencastle and get a progress report on the works from Piers and Harbours Engineer, Eugene Allan, Harbour Master, Kevin McNeilis, and Stephen McCormick from Foyle and Marine Dredging.”
Featured photo: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, pictured during a visit to the recently completed Greencastle Harbour Breakwater Project with Stephen McCormick from Foyle and Marine Dredging, Piers and Harbours Engineer, Eugene Allan, and Harbour Master, Kevin McNeilis.
“It’s a vital piece of infrastructure that will support economic diversification which is vital for the growth and sustainability of the wider community directly impacted by Brexit. Restarting and bringing this much-needed facility to a finish has been a key objective of mine for many years, and the positive impact it is going to have on Greencastle and the marine community can’t be emphasised enough.
“The investment of €25 million in Greencastle will see a major improvement in the sustainability of resilience of our coastal communities. Greencastle is the second largest white fish port in Ireland and is also home to a large inshore fleet, mainly engaged in shellfish and crab, making it a key town in Ireland’s seafood sector,” he added.
Pointing out that the Greencastle Breakwater Project is the single largest beneficiary under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Local Authority Marine Infrastructure Scheme, with 95 per cent of the funding coming from his department, Minister McConalogue went on: “The purpose of the project is to improve the storm shelter characteristics of the harbour, increase the harbour area and provide new berthage.”
“This much-need project will also open up new and exciting opportunities for Inishowen and the Northwest region, and I am delighted that we are now at the stage where we are looking forward to the official opening over the coming months,” he added.
