A group of Donegal businessman has expressed frustration at lack of Government interest in a proposal for a €3 million 100-berth marina in Killybegs, Co Donegal.
It would be built entirely with private capital and give a vital tourism boost following completion of the State-funded €55 million fishery harbour, says Mr Barry Sharkey, managing director of Barry Electronics, a main backer of the project.
Berths would be offered to local owners of sea angling vessels and pleasure craft at special affordable rates, and the marina would not be "some type of exclusive yacht club", says Mr Sharkey.
Partners in the project are Mr Paul O'Neill of O'Neill Fishing Co Ltd and Mr Charles Vial, managing director of C Fish Ltd.
The trio have formed Killybegs Marina Co Ltd. They have hired consultants and engineers for preparatory work, and approached the Department of the Marine eight months ago to acquire a foreshore licence.
The proposed site would be between the old town pier and the Blackrock pier in the old fishery harbour. The group also proposes to build an administration centre, provide car parking and construct a maritime cultural centre.
Mr Sharkey and Mr O'Neill are landowners in the town, and Mr Sharkey acknowledges that marinas increase property values generally. But he said his property was not close to the proposed location for the berthage.
The group has made a submission to the Deloitte & Touche report on marinas for Donegal commissioned last year by Donegal County Council.
These consultants recommended that five marinas be built in the county at Burtonport (100 berths), Killybegs (100 berths), Bunnagee (15 berths), Bally-whoriskey, Fanad (three berths), and Tory Island (15 berths). A private marina is being developed at Fahan in north Donegal.
Mr Sharkey's group says a marina at Killybegs would cost the State nothing if the Department was favourable to the foreshore licence application. But the group does not have the support of the Killybegs Parish Council, an elected body of 30 people in the town, which believes the State should fund any such structure.
Leading fish processor Mr Tadhg Gallagher, who chairs the parish council, supports the concept of a State-funded marina: "The preferred option has to be a public amenity, because this is a fishery harbour centre."
Mr Gallagher said the Killybegs Marine Leisure and Tourism Group had applied for a foreshore licence, also last April. This should be granted, given that the Government should meet all its commitments to the State fishery harbour, he said.
Marinas are a sensitive subject for the Government, following controversy over several projects on the west coast which were funded in breach of EU competition law.
The Department of the Marine said yesterday it had appointed a marketing consultant for Killybegs, following completion of the €55 million deepwater harbour. Any such marina proposal would be examined in this context, a spokesman said.
