A DONEGAL businessman says that the full benefits to the west coast from the impending Volvo Ocean race stopover are being frustrated by State bureaucracy.
Barry Sharkey of Barry Electronics in Killybegs says he has spent over five years and over €100,000 attempting to build a marina in the harbour.
Although planning approval had been granted, “layers of bureaucracy” and the impact of decentralisation on public service decisions had delayed the project needlessly, he said.
“Efforts to overcome this bureaucracy will frustrate the most enthusiastic entrepreneur, and discourage investment here.
“Ironically, this project could give a much needed boost in a county which has unemployment running up to 18 per cent, and in a harbour which has suffered the negative impact of the downturn in the fishing industry.”
Mr Sharkey led a group of three businessmen, two of whom were involved in the fishing industry, which initiated the project in 2003. The trio, including Paul O’Neill and Charlie Vial, said the Killybegs project would complement the €55 million deepwater harbour constructed by the State.
A Deloitte and Touche report for Donegal County Council several years ago had recommended that a series of marinas be built in the county at Burtonport (100 berths), Killybegs (100 berths), Bunnagee (15 berths), Ballywhoriskey, Fanad and Tory island.
The department said it was “examining ” the specific queries raised on the Killybegs marina.