A Kerry TD has told the Dáil of the pressing need for a pier or landing facility for local fishermen in Cromane.
Kerry Fine Gael TD and Deputy Government Chief Whip Brendan Griffin raised the matter in Dáil Éireann this week.
He appealed for support from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, in getting the project off the ground.
Deputy Griffin told the Dáil that the mussel fishing industry in Cromane has great potential to support local jobs and provide a future for the young people of the area, but there is currently virtually zero coastal infrastructure.
The Fine Gael TD said that the need for a pier or landing facility in the area has been a long-running saga for many decades, and although various funding mechanisms have been examined, it has still not happened.
Deputy Griffin added feasibility and design funding is required, which has been difficult to come by, and construction funding would be required after that.
He asked the Minister to provide a Department representative to advise and consult in a stakeholder forum for the project.
In response, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said the Education Minister and Kerry Fianna Fáil TD Norma Foley had raised the matter with him before, and he hopes to visit the site in September.
Minister McConalogue added any proposals for a potential future pier development project in Cromane are solely a matter for Kerry County Council, but he would allocate an official from the Department to support a working group.
The Agriculture Minister added if any application for funding is made for capital works at Cromane Harbour under any future programme, it will be given due consideration.
