McConalogue ‘makes ground’ at €30 million Deep Water Quay Development at Ros an Mhíl, Galway
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[Source: gov.ie]
On Friday 24th February 2023, Minster McConalogue visited the site of the new Deep-Water quay development under construction at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhíl, Galway. The project is being funded through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
Welcoming the commencement of the works, the Minister said:
"I’m delighted to be here today to mark the start of the works on the Deep-Water quay project. In this case, we are ‘making ground’ rather than breaking it, to add 200 metres of quayside to this facility so we can accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels.“
In 2021, almost 90% of all fish landed into Ireland was into the 6 State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres. At Ros an Mhíl, these landings were valued at c.€15.9 million. This primary production is critical to supplying the downstream indigenous seafood processing and export industries and in sustaining the livelihoods of coastal communities. The importance of these primary and secondary food production activities are reflected in the government’s Food Vision 2030 policy.
The Minister added:
”This critical infrastructure further demonstrates the importance this government places on safeguarding the future of our fisheries dependent coastal communities. By providing a first-class landing infrastructure, we are ensuring the seafood industry can operate effectively and be efficiently serviced in this region."
While primarily benefitting fishing vessels, the new quay will also be available to large vessels such as Irish Navy fleet, Marine Institute Research Vessels, marine survey vessels and marine leisure craft. The Deep-Water quay is a flagship project under the department’s 2023 Capital Programme. The Contractor, Ward & Burke Construction Limited, commenced works on site at the end of January and it is expected that the project will be completed by December 2024.
The Minister concluded by saying:
“With this investment, this government is recognising Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre as an economic hub with potential for downstream development and job creation in this region. It is fitting that a local company, Ward and Burke Construction Ltd, is undertaking the works and I have every confidence that other local businesses will seize the opportunities provided by this development in time.”