Sinn Féin Councillor Conor D. McGuinness posed a series of questions regarding repair and maintenance works at the fisheries harbour at Cé Heilbhic in An Rinn during the December Dungarvan-Lismore District meeting.
McGuinness noted that dredging the harbour remained a priority but queried why works to repair the breakwater had stopped, with a considerable amount of work to be completed.
McGuinness said:
“Ce Heilbhic is an economically importance piece of infrastructure and is vital to the local fishing industry. It is also of strategic importance as the home of the Dungarvan and Helvick Head and Lifeboat. A build up of sand and silt over several years means that at low tide entering and exiting the harbour can be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
“Dredging the harbour has to be seen as a priority. Unfortunately the Government, and the Fianna Fáil minister with responsibility for fisheries, have refused several applications for funding. In fact the Minister has recently confirmed in writing that he has no intention of funding dredging for Heilbhic. This is despite a bizarre announcement to the contrary from one local councillor.
“Earlier this year I welcomed funding to carry out urgent repairs on the breakwater and works commenced over the summer. Those works have ground to a halt and the job remains incomplete. My question is when this work will resume, and when we can expect the repair works to be completed?”
In response, Senior Roads Engineer Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the works were being carried out in two parts and that phase one was now complete. Phase two is to begin in the new year.
Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 