Minister Creed ‘hopeful' of funds for Schull Harbour marina plans

MINISTER for the Marine, Michael Creed, said he believes a major plan for the development of Schull Harbour can be achieved on an incremental basis.

The minister, who was in Schull last Friday, said his department would be writing to local authorities, this week, inviting them to submit projects for consideration under a piers and harbour grant scheme.

He pointed out that the Department of the Marine owns six piers around the country and that the local authorities own all the other public piers.

Cork County Council owns Schull pier. However, the Department of the Marine operates a scheme for local authorities to improve these piers, as well as provide assistance for recreation projects.

Deputy Creed acknowledged that as the Schull plan is ‘a minor grant scheme’, it would be expensive to complete. But he said he believed it would be possible to complete the project in Schull ‘in modular fashion’.

Minister Creed told The Southern Star: ‘If this project comes in to my Department with a high priority from the local authority I would be very hopeful that we would be in a position to provide funding.’

He confirmed that he has already met with representatives of the Schull Community Harbour Development Company Ltd – the company seeking to develop a 225-berth marina – at a meeting arranged by Jim Daly TD. 

Deputy Creed said he was aware that the local community group are already working closely with the local authority and that they ‘clearly understand how to progress the matter’.

The plan, by Schull Community Harbour Development Company Ltd, includes a pontoon marina with 225 berths and service berths, a 10m wide slipway, a public promenade and walkways, as well as a car park for 130 cars.