Minister's grant advice on Schull harbour plan

MARINE Minister Michael Creed has advised Schull Community Council to apply for a grant which could help them complete their ambitious marina plans.

A meeting recently took place between members of the Council, Minister Creed and management of Cork County Council in Clonakilty, facilitated by Cork South West TD Jim Daly (FG).

‘Schull Harbour Development Committee has substantial work done over the past ten years and has a current valid planning permission to develop the harbour significantly,’ Deputy Daly explained, adding that the plans include raising the deck of the existing pier, construction of a breakwater, installation of small and large pontoons, a 235-berth marina, a facilities building and a new car park.

‘The local committee have been successful in raising the funds required to get the project to this stage themselves, and accepted that state funding would not be forthcoming during the recession. However, they now feel after a decade of voluntary efforts to get the project going, some assistance should be forthcoming from the State,’ he added.

The deputy said the Minister gave the committee a good hearing and complimented their efforts to date. ‘He outlined the details of a scheme administered by his department which would facilitate a start to the project and advised the committee that an application should be submitted as soon as possible,’ added Deputy Daly. 

Clodagh Henehan, divisional manager of Cork County Council, undertook to progress a foreshore licence application for Phase One and expressed her desire to assist the progression of the development.

Deputy Daly said the committee were ‘get up and go people’ doing it for themselves and had designed an attractive development that will benefit the entire West Cork region, not just Schull. ‘This committee have brought this project a serious distance, although no physical ground has yet been broken, the amount of paper work and red tape overcome to get the project shovel ready is no mean achievement. They deserve some assistance from the State agencies now,’ he concluded. Further meetings between the Council and the local committee are hoped to take place in the coming weeks.