Michael Collins presses for urgent action on Union Hall pier
Michael Collins raised concerns about delays to promised improvements at Union Hall's Keelbake Pier, saying residents, fishermen and the tourism sector are rightly frustrated. He asked the Taoiseach to urge the relevant minister to meet immediately with council officials to cut through confusion and pave the way for funding and the three-phase pier works.
Collins said visits from the Taoiseach and the former Minister for Agriculture and Marine had raised hopes that funding would follow, but nothing has materialised. He described years of unkept promises and mounting local frustration.
He set out the local authority's plan for Keelbake Pier as three phases - refurbishment of the old pier, development of an additional 150m of key space for commercial fishing, and dredging of access to the channel to the pier facility.
Collins and a colleague attended a public meeting where residents repeated long-standing complaints about delays and the lack of progress. He said the Council and the Department have blamed each other, attendees were rightly furious, and he promised to raise the issue with the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach acknowledged the frustration and recalled an April 2024 meeting between County Council officials, representatives of the Union Hall Save Our Pier Committee, the then Minister and the Assistant Secretary General for the Seafood and Marine Division. The Taoiseach said the Council had been reminded of its responsibility to advance projects and to bear costs for studies, design and consenting, and was advised to apply to the Department once consents are in place. He said he would seek a further update, send a note on the 13th and engage directly to try to make progress.
Local frustration and unfulfilled promises
Collins said visits from the Taoiseach and the former Minister for Agriculture and Marine had raised hopes that funding would follow, but nothing has materialised. He described years of unkept promises and mounting local frustration.
Three-phase development plan
He set out the local authority's plan for Keelbake Pier as three phases - refurbishment of the old pier, development of an additional 150m of key space for commercial fishing, and dredging of access to the channel to the pier facility.
Public meeting and accountability
Collins and a colleague attended a public meeting where residents repeated long-standing complaints about delays and the lack of progress. He said the Council and the Department have blamed each other, attendees were rightly furious, and he promised to raise the issue with the Taoiseach.
Taoiseach's response and next steps
The Taoiseach acknowledged the frustration and recalled an April 2024 meeting between County Council officials, representatives of the Union Hall Save Our Pier Committee, the then Minister and the Assistant Secretary General for the Seafood and Marine Division. The Taoiseach said the Council had been reminded of its responsibility to advance projects and to bear costs for studies, design and consenting, and was advised to apply to the Department once consents are in place. He said he would seek a further update, send a note on the 13th and engage directly to try to make progress.
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Transcript
The people of Union Hall, Dandor and surrounding areas are very rightly frustrated with the progress in relation to promise improvements to their local peer. These promises are going on for years and in this time they have had visits from the Taoiseach, also the former Minister for Agriculture and Marine, looking at what needs to be done, raising hopes of the local fishermen and tourism sector that funding would be given but nothing has followed. The local authority has said that there are three phases to work that need to be done, refurbishment of the old pier, two development of an additional 150m of key space for commercial fishing and three dredging of access to the channel to the pier facility. Council Dan and myself attended a public meeting last Monday night and I heard the same, as I have heard year in, year out, the Council blaming the department as they see clarity and the department blaming the Council. Those who attended were rightly furious. I promised the people present that I would raise this issue with you. Taoiseach, can you speak to the relevant Minister to meet immediately with Council officials and cut out the confusion to pave the way for funds to be delivered and this hugely important Keelbake Pier works in Union Hall? Taoiseach. Well, thanks very much to Deputy Collins and I can hear your frustration on behalf of your constituents. My understanding is that in April 2024, the Delegation Accord County Council of Officials and Representatives from the Union Hall Save Our Pier Committee had a meeting with the then Minister and the Assistant Secretary General for Seafood and Marine Division in the Department Headquarters and Agriculture House. At the meeting, I think the Council outlined the development plan for Keelbake Pier consisting of three phases, the refurbishment of the old pier, the extension of the new pier and the dredging of Glengareff harbour. My understanding was that the Council were reminded of their own responsibility to step projects forward to make them ready for delivery and that any costs associated with studies, design and consenting must be borne by the Council. My understanding is that the Council were advised to apply to the Department once the relevant consents are in place and I am now going to seek a further update from you in relation to that. On the 13th, let me just send you a note here in terms of the next steps, quite a bit of detail here, but I am certainly happy to engage with you directly on this and see if we can make progress. Thank you.