This article is from page 17 of the 2012-05-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
THE piers and harbours in Doolin, Lahinch and Liscannor are to receive a facelift before the end of the year as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have granted assistance for some upgrade work.
The Government Department will supply up to 75 per cent of the cost of each project to Clare County Council calculated at € 97,500. As much as € 45,000 has been provided to make safe different areas of Lahinch beach.
The planned installation of protective railings at various locations including along ramped and stepped ac- cess from promenade to beach areas, along interfaces between promenade, shore and parking areas is estimated to cost € 60,000.
A further € 30,000 is to be provided for the € 40,000 harbour dredging works and the implementation of repairs in respect of the existing quay walls in Liscannor.
Up to € 22,500 has been provided for the € 30,000 work at Doolin Pier which includes the installation of appropriately located safety railings in the vicinity of the pier and on the steps used to facilitate access to ferries which used the pier to provide linkage with the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher. Other works will in- clude installation of parking control measures to ensure free movement of traffic including rescue craft to and from the pier area.
Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said, “It is envisaged that the local authority projects will bring much needed employment to local communities as well as providing improved infrastructure at the various piers and harbours. Initial estimates from the local authorities suggest that in excess of 1,200 man weeks of employment could be created from the approval of this programme.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, “Applications were received from 14 local authorities for 121 projects. The total value of the applications received was € 18,234,200. A shortlist of projects for consideration was compiled based on the prioritisation assigned by the local authorities with the aim of achieving a fair spread of the funding around the coastline. Local authorities were then requested to complete a more detailed application for the short listed projects.”
All works must now be completed by December 2012, and the total cost of individual projects must be less than € 150,000. All expenditure must be incurred in 2012 and all claims fully submitted by December 1.