Sinn Féin has said that the Government’s review of the National Development Plan (NDP) offers little reassurance to fishing communities or the wider maritime sector, with no clear investment strategy for harbours, ports, seafood production, or coastal development.
The party’s spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD, said:
“This review represents another missed opportunity to deliver for coastal communities. There is no mention of the fishing industry, no capital vision for the seafood sector, and no strategic investment to strengthen the infrastructure these communities depend on.”
“Fishing and the broader marine economy are core parts of regional life and national identity — yet they are once again invisible in this plan. Port infrastructure, harbour upgrades, marine training and processing — all of these areas require clear, targeted investment, and yet none are addressed.”
“Our fishing communities face real challenges, from rising fuel costs to diminishing quotas and regulatory uncertainty. At a time when ambition and planning are urgently needed, the Government has instead produced a capital review that largely recycles old commitments and avoids difficult decisions.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, added:
“This is a capital plan that makes no reference to the fishing industry, makes no provision for modernising local landing infrastructure, and offers no direction on how coastal ports can support Ireland’s climate or economic goals in the decade ahead.”
“The absence of a clear maritime infrastructure programme is deeply concerning. There is no coordinated vision across fisheries, marine biodiversity, seafood production, or regional port development. It reflects a wider pattern of structural neglect that continues to undermine the potential of the coastal and island economy.”
McGuinness concluded:
“Sinn Féin will continue to work with fishing communities, harbour users, and regional development agencies to demand a capital investment framework that recognises the strategic importance of Ireland’s maritime sector. Coastal communities deserve more than vague assurances — they deserve a plan that delivers.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 