Press Release: Ministers Calleary and Chambers announce investment of €35.7 million for Inis Oírr pier
Fógraíonn na hAirí Calleary agus Chambers infheistíocht
€35.7 milliún i bhforbairt ché Inis Oírr
- An chéad tionscadal a fógraíodh i ndiaidh athbhreithniú ar an Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta, ar fiú €257bn é
- Conradh tógála €30m bronnta ar Ward & Burke Construction i ndiaidh próiseas iomaíoch tairisceana
- Meastar go gcríochnófar an tógáil laistigh de dhá bhliain
- An infheistíocht aonair is mó ar na hoileáin amach ón chósta agus sa Ghaeltacht ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta
Inniu, Déardaoin, an 28 Lúnasa, d’fhógair an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, agus an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriú agus Digitiú na Seirbhíse Poiblí, Jack Chambers TD, gur ceadaíodh maoiniú €35.75 milliún do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe chun dul ar aghaidh le tionscadal méadaithe cé Inis Oírr, tionscadal bonneagair suaitheanta faoi Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta an Rialtais.
A bhuí leis an gceadú maoinithe, tá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe in ann an príomhchonradh tógála, ar fiú €30 milliún é, a bhronnadh ar Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. tar éis próiseas soláthair dhá bhliain.
Is éard atá san fhorbairt ná méadú coincréite ar an gcé agus tonnchosc, a dearadh chun cosaint níos fearr a sholáthar ó thonnta agus ó stoirmeacha laistigh den chuan, mar aon le spás breise do bháid, go háirithe i rith mhíonna an tsamhraidh nuair a bhíonn an t-éileamh is mó mar gheall ar thrácht turasóireachta.
Rinne na hAirí Calleary agus Chambers an fógra le linn cuairt ar Inis Oírr inniu chun bualadh le baill de phobal an oileáin mar aon le hionadaithe ó Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus na conraitheoirí.
Ag labhairt ag an bhfógra, dúirt an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD:
“Is cúis áthais dom a dheimhniú go bhfuair mé an maoiniú atá riachtanach chun dul ar aghaidh le tionscadal forbartha ché Inis Oírr. Is é €35.75m costas iomlán an tionscadail seo, agus os cionn €30m don chonradh tógála amháin. Is ionann seo agus an tionscadal aonair is mó a mhaoinigh mo Roinnse ó bunaíodh í in 2017, rud a léiríonn tiomantas an Rialtais do phobail na tuaithe agus na nOileán.
“Cinnteoidh an infheistíocht seo in Inis Oírr rochtain shábháilte ar feadh na bliana do chónaitheoirí agus do chuairteoirí araon, le háiseanna níos fearr do bháid fharantóireachta, agus déanfaidh sé leas do na glúnta atá le teacht sa phobal seo.”
Dúirt an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí, Bonneagair, Athchóiriú agus Digitiú na Seirbhíse Poiblí, Jack Chambers TD:
“Seo an chéad tionscadal a fógraíodh ó foilsíodh an Plean Forbartha Náisiúnta athbhreithnithe €275bn an mhí seo caite. Léirítear ann tiomantas an Rialtais bonneagar riachtanach a sheachadadh ar fud na tíre, lena n-áirítear ár n-oileáin agus ár bpobail Ghaeltachta. Baineann buntáistí na hinfheistíochta seo le i bhfad níos mó ná an struchtúr fisiciúil amháin. Cruthóidh sé fostaíocht shuntasach i rith chéim na tógála, rud a thabharfaidh méadú ar ghníomhaíocht eacnamaíoch don oileán. Is infheistíocht í seo i ndaoine, i bpobal, agus i bhfís do thodhchaí ár n-oileán agus do thodhchaí na Gaeilge mar theanga phobail. Leagann sé seo béim ar thiomantas an Rialtais chun fás eacnamaíoch a chothú trí infreastruchtúr a thacaíonn le teaghlaigh, pobail agus fiontair áitiúla.”
Dúirt Liam Conneally, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe:
“Cuirim fáilte roimh mhaoiniú na Roinne chun an ché ar Inis Oírr a uasghrádú agus a leathnú. Tacaíonn an infheistíocht seo lenár gcuspóirí sa Phlean Corparáideach chun céanna agus calafoirt a fhorbairt, ag feabhsú nascachta lenár n-oileáin. Neartóidh sé naisc iompair, tacóidh sé le pobal agus geilleagar an oileáin, agus feabhsóidh sé acmhainneacht stoirme agus sábháilteacht calafoirt.”
“Le maoiniú ceadaithe, rinne Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe conradh don chéad chéim eile den tionscadal. Is féidir tosú láithreach ar dhearadh agus ar thógáil lasmuigh den láthair, agus táthar ag súil go dtosóidh an obair ar an láthair in Earrach 2026.”
Dúirt an Comhairleoir David Collins, Cathaoirleach Chontae na Gaillimhe:
“Is gealltanas láidir é fógra an lae inniu do thodhchaí Inis Oírr, ag tacú leis an bpobal áitiúil agus le fás na turasóireachta inbhuanaithe do na glúnta atá le teacht.”
Ministers Calleary and Chambers announce investment of
€35.7 million for Inis Oírr pier development
- First project to be announced following the review of the €275bn National Development Plan
- €30m construction contract awarded to Ward & Burke Construction following competitive tender process
- Construction expected to be completed within two years
- Largest single investment in offshore islands and in the Gaeltacht by Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, have announced today (Thursday, 28 August) that funding of €35.75 million has been approved for Galway County Council to proceed with the Inis Oírr pier extension project, a flagship infrastructure project under the Government’s National Development Plan.
The funding approval has enabled Galway County Council to award the main construction contact, valued at €30 million, to Ward & Burke Construction Ltd. following a two-year procurement process.
The development comprises the construction of a concrete pier extension and a breakwater, designed to provide better protection from waves and storms within the harbour, along with increased berthage space for vessels, particularly during the summer months when demand is greatest due to tourist traffic.
Ministers Calleary and Chambers made the announcement during a visit to Inis Oírr today to meet with members of the island community along with representatives of Galway County Council and the contractors.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, said:
“It gives me great pleasure to confirm that I have secured the funding required to proceed with the Inis Oírr pier development project. The overall cost of this project is €35.75m, with over €30m for the construction contract alone. This represents the single biggest project funded by my Department since it was established in 2017, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to rural Ireland and Island communities.
“This investment in Inis Oírr will ensure safe year-round access for island residents and visitors alike, with better facilities for ferries, and will support the community to thrive for generations to come.”
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, said:
“This is the first project to be announced since the publication of the revised €275bn National Development Plan last month. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to delivering essential infrastructure across our country, including our islands and our Gaeltacht communities.
The benefits of this investment go far beyond the physical structure alone. It will create substantial employment throughout the construction phase, which will bring increased economic activity to the island. This is an investment in people, in a community, and in a vision for the future of our islands and for the future of Irish as a community language. This underscores Government’s commitment to delivering economic growth enabling infrastructure to support families, communities and local enterprise.”
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said:
“I welcome the Department’s funding for the upgrade and extension of the pier on Inis Oírr. This investment supports our Corporate Plan objectives to develop piers and harbours, improving connectivity with our islands. It will strengthen transport links, support the island’s community and economy, and enhance storm resilience and harbour safety.”
“With funding approved, Galway County Council has entered a contract for the next phase of the project. Design and off-site construction can begin immediately, with on-site work expected to start in spring 2026.”
Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of County Galway, commented:
“Today’s announcement is a strong commitment to the future of Inis Oírr, supporting both the local community and the growth of sustainable tourism for generations to come.”