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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, today welcomed the formal granting of planning permission for a 216 metre quay extension project on Dinish Island, Castletown Bere.

Welcoming the decision by Cork County Council the Minister said

The granting of planning permission on May 1^st paves the way for works to start on this  project, which has been in gestation for some time.

The new project is being undertaken in tandem with the development of a fit for purpose Harbour Administration Building on the mainland and will bring the facilities in Ireland’s Premier white fish port up to best International Standards.

The Minister added: 

On foot of receiving Planning Permission my Department has now instigated a formal tendering process for the construction works with a closure date of June 8^th. On completion of the tender process I expect to be in a position to award a contract and for works to commence by the end of October.

The major quayside  extension is in direct response to the increased fishing  activity in Castletown Bere since the last major development in 2010. Overall landings have increased from 19,030t in 2010 with a value of €29.9m to 30,522t and a value of €99.4m in 2017

The Minister went on to say:

Taking account of the increased level of activity in Castletown Bere and the unprecedented success in increasing landings by foreign vessels from 370 in 2010 to 1,543 in 2017, I am delighted that this major capital investment proposal has got the green light.

The Minister concluded by saying:

When completed the new facilities for the fishing industry and the wider seafood sector in Castletown Bere will be on a par with the best in Europe. This will drive forward the local economy on the Beara Peninsula and allow for a major expansion of the seafood support sector and other marine related industries in the South West. The expanded landing facilities will also provide opportunities for further economic diversification.