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Crunch breakwater meeting this
week
08.03.10
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
DONEGAL County Manager, Michael McLoone is due to
meet Minister Tony Kileen this week to agree a
payment plan to allow the controversial Greencastle
breakwater go ahead.
Donegal County Council has agreed a plan to release
the necessary funds to ensure that work on the
long-awaited breakwater can be completed.
A proposal at last week's meeting in County House
set out a mechanism by which the Council can pay
their liability of €1.36 million, clearing the way
for the Government to follow through with the
funding required to finish the project.
It is understood the proposal involves a substantial
payment of up to 45% of the sum owed to the
Department of Marine followed by a payment plan for
the remainder, which will be handed over in
installments in the following 18 months.
Mr McLoone is expected meet with Minister Killeen
this week in a bid to end the impasse between the
two agencies. |
Labour Councillor,
Martin Farren said there was ‘light at the end of
the tunnel’ for the Greencastle project.
“We are moving in the right direction with everyone
singing off the same hymn sheet. There is still work
to be done but I am very hopeful that a resolution
will be found and this essential project will be
completed. The breakwater is a valuable asset not
just for Greencastle but for all of Inishowen,” he
said.
“This is the third time I have spoken on the
Greencastle |
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breakwater issue in
Council Chambers and I will keep pushing until we
get a positive response from the Minister. All the
councilors have supported me on this issue and I am
calling on them to back my proposal that money be
made available to finish the project.”
Mr. Farren paid tribute to Greencastle Harbour
Users’ Committee for their continuing efforts to get
the breakwater back on track.
Fianna Fail Councillor, Charlie McConalogue, said he
was able to use his position as Deputy Mayor to push
the breakwater project forward.
“The issue of the outstanding Council debt has been
raised repeatedly by Minister Killeen as an obstacle
to the Department proceeding with the breakwater. I
feel that this agreement will remove that obstacle
and am very confident from contacts with the
Minister that it will lead to Greencastle being
prioritised in next year’s capital budget,” he said.
“This is a very important project for Greencastle
and indeed Inishowen and we all must do what we can
to ensure it its completed. I am more than happy to
have been able to work in my capacity as Deputy
Mayor to help ensure that the project is moved on
and will do everything I can now to see it through
to completion.”
Sounding a note of caution Seamus Bovaird, of the
Harbour Users' Committee, said the group had heard
promises before.
“While I would welcome any meeting between the
Department and the County Council we will not be
rejoicing until we get a positive response from the
Minister,” he said.
“We have been given assurances on this issue before
but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
We may be on the right road but how far down the
road are we? I’m not going to praise a pig in a
poke.” |
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