A plan to establish "a necklace of marinas" around the Irish coast and expected to create hundreds of new jobs has been unveiled by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey today.
In a boost for the beleaguered tourism industry and the least economically developed parts of the country in the West and Northwest, €23.7 million is expected to be invested over four years along the West coast Clare to Donegal. €15 million is to be invested in the South and East.
Grants of up to 75 per cent will be made able for both large and small scale marina projects.
"As one of Ireland’s major indigenous industries, tourism provides a significant opportunity for Irish people to develop sustainable businesses based on greatest natural asset, our marine environment," Mr Fahey said at the launch of the National Development Plan project that could see up to €40 million invested in Irish coastal towns.
"Major investment will focus on developing high quality, integrated water-based tourism and leisure ‘clusters’ at a targeted number of sites which are properly integrated with the mainstream tourism product," Mr Fahey said.
The Minister said he expected significant proposals from Galway, Westport, Ballina and a number of locations in Co Donegal.