European Brexit funds worth €35 million are to be directed to port and coastal communities to improve publicly-owned piers and harbours.
The fund, which will be administered by the Department of Agriculture, will be paid out of the EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) fund. It will be targeted at rejuvenating public piers and harbours in coastal communities, the department said .
The establishment of the fund was one of the recommendations of a seafood sector taskforce established after Brexit by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. The taskforce had proposed a fund of €80 million across five years for the development of publicly-owned marine infrastructure.
It was set up to fund works to pieces of coastal infrastructure that have been damaged or declined in structural integrity or have been underused in recent years.
Projects needing funding of up to €1 million will be asked to submit “shovel- ready” plans during this year and next, although larger projects will be considered where there is particular exposure to Brexit due to proximity to UK waters and loss of fishing opportunities.
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https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/brexit-funds-of-35m-to-be-directed-to-coastal-communities-to-improve-piers-and-harbours-1.4783935