Éamon Ó Cuív demands full steps and timeline for delayed pier
Éamon Ó Cuív questioned the prolonged timeline for a pier development and asked the Department to provide a full list of procedural steps required before construction, citing a recent foreshore licence problem. He argued the business case should prioritise maritime outcomes and warned that relocating people "off a dying island" could be costlier than completing the works.
Request for timeline and steps
Éamon Ó Cuív pressed the Department on when the process will conclude and requested a list of all steps required before construction can start. He noted that planning had been obtained but the project stalled this year when a foreshore licence was suddenly absent, and he urged clarity so the community, local politicians and the Department can see what must be done and what steps can run in parallel.
Business case and relocation concerns
He criticised what he described as an over‑egged business case approach and said the maritime result can realistically be achieved in only one effective way. He warned that failure to deliver the pier could force relocation of residents "off a dying island", which he argued might ultimately cost more than getting the infrastructure right.
Department response and project complexity
A Department official responded that the pier is complex and that previous attempts had not succeeded, so thorough preparatory work is essential. The official said a revised timeline has yet to be agreed with Galway County Council, that consulting engineers will prepare the timeline after DPOR agrees the business plan, and that pre‑construction issues include foreshore licensing, planning, environmental and marine service clearances and the tendering process.
Expected schedule and ongoing engagement
The Department official indicated that, based on previous harbour developments, actual construction may not commence until year two after project approval. The official added that fortnightly meetings with Galway County Council are ongoing, they have visited the pier, and difficult currents at the harbour entrance are a key technical challenge to be resolved.
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The last part of that question is going to be the first part of my question. When will this particular process be over? Because it is going on for a long time. The second issue is, could the Department provide a list of all the steps that will need to be taken before we can get into construction? Because, for example, in this year you have run into a problem that you had the planning but just when everything was ready to go you suddenly found you had no foreshore licence. So could you give us a list of all the steps so that the community, the local politicians and the Department are clear on what is going to be involved in progressing this particular project? And then we can look at what steps can be run in parallel. To a certain extent, I think we over-egged the business case issue. It can only be done one way effectively to give you the maritime result. And whatever cost is going to have to be done, either that or it will cost you a lot more to relocate the people off a dying island. Thank you and thank you again deputies Connolly and O'Keefe. This is a complex pier. We did try to do this before, years ago, and we did not get it right. So it is important that all of the necessary preparatory work is done so we do get it right. And just to say that it is early in this development process, so a revised timeline for the project has yet to be agreed with Galway County Council. The timeline will be prepared by consulting engineers and will lay out the various development steps following agreement of the business plan by DPOR. Prior to actual construction, there are a number of pre-construction issues to be addressed. You are right, Deputy O'Keefe, such as foreshore licensing, planning, environmental and marine service and the tendering process. Accordingly, based on the previous harbour developments, it may not be until year two of the project being approved that actual construction does commence. But can I say that we are having fortnightly meetings with Galway County Council. So we are keeping the pressure on there and I do know that this has been going on for a long, long time. And as I said, I visited the pier and I am committed to working with you to try and move this on as quickly as we can. But it is complex. The currents at the entrance to the harbour are making it difficult to get it right. And that is the situation. Thank you.
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