Clogherhead harbour plan is turned down

April 1994

Clogherhead harbour will not be developed under the National Development Plan, Minister for the Marine David Andrews has told Deputy Michael Bell.

The Minister was replying to a Dail question by the Deputy Michael Bell, who asked when sanction would be given to the project, when it was likely to commence and the approximate cost.

The Minister recently approved the 1994 Programme of Works to be undertaken by the Department of the Marine at fishery harbours.

Councillor John McConville lashed the decision not to fund the harbour. ‘What the Minister is effectively saying is that Clogherhead is getting nothing. Unless we can come up with some sort of package ourselves we will have nothing,’ Cllr. McConville said.

‘The onus is now on Louth County Council to do something about this,’ he added.

Cllr. McConville suggested that a local business consortium could work in conjunction with the County Council to have the harbour developed.

‘There is potential in Clogherhead. We have employment, we have the facilities and we have two fish factories. The harbour will break up unless something is done,’ Cllr. McConville said.

Cllr. McConville will also be pushing for a new access road to the harbour, probably running from the direction of Hackett’s Cross/Big Strand.

According to Minister Andrews, the total cost of the development proposals submitted by the various local authorities for consideration and possible inclusion in the Fishery Harbour Development Plan 1994-1999 far exceeds the funding available.

The proposals submitted by Louth County Council alone amounted to £8 million.