New maritime plan for Mayo

The Head of Marine with Mayo County Council has said plans are in place to launch a new maritime strategy for the county.

Providing an update on piers and harbours to members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District recently, Michael O’Boyle said the big news in Mayo from a maritime perspective was the recent approval by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary of €157,300 for Roonagh Pier, which serves ferries to Inishturk and Clare islands.

The funding will be used to prepare a business case for strategic infrastructural improvements at the pier.

“This is significant as it is the first stage development of a large facility at Roonagh that would give all-year-round service that would be safe and usable for the people of the islands and as an amenity," said Mr O'Boyle. "This first stage is looking at optimal design, looking at different options, costings and return on investment. Once that’s done we will move to the design stage. 

"Roonagh is really transformative to the county and I know the Department took particular care in getting this part of the project right and I am delighted to be able to help out on this.” 

Mr O’Boyle said four other marine projects had also received support from the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine, with works at Purteen Harbour, Rosmoney, Porturlin Pier and Lacken Pier all now at construction stage.

Construction works are also underway at a number of additional piers on Mayo's islands under the Minor Capital Programme funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

“We are rolling these out not just at Inishturk and Clare islands but also at Clynish and Inishlyre and Inishbiggle and we are working closely with the Department of Marine as well as the Department of Rural and Community Development."

In terms of ongoing maintenance of marine infrastructure, he said investment had significantly improved over the last two to three years. 

“This meant we were able to do a lot of small jobs around the coastline, with some at Inishturk, we also upgraded the pontoon in Dugort, navigation aids were also added around Westport and Clew Bay and this year, with the help of the machinery yard in the council, we were able to do a lot of work in Achill. 

"Next year we hope to move to North Mayo, off Killala and Lacken, in order to work on some significant projects there.” 

Mr O'Boyle said it was hoped to shortly launch a new maritime strategy.

"It will be a first in the country, setting a strategy that takes in our coastline from Purteen and Westport Quay to the Inishkea islands and the non-lived islands. It will also include a heritage programme and will involve looking at all elements of our marine coastline.” 

Welcoming the works at Roonagh, Cllr Chris Maxwell said: “We are delighted with the €150,000 that was announced by Minister Calleary and thank all on the committee for lobbying hard on that. Everyone wants to see Roonagh developed. It is one of the most strategic harbours on the Mayo coastline and if it is brought to its full potential will bring immense benefits.” 

Director of Services Joanne Grehan said the council was very grateful to the Department of Rural and Community Development for the investment in Roonagh Pier as well as to a number of Oireachtas members who supported the community in seeking the funding investment.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.