Fahey: Department officials tried ‘to cover their butts’

THE former Marine Minister Frank Fahey yesterday launched a blistering attack on Department of Communication and Marine officials for their handling of four controversial marina projects.

The four projects, allocated e6 million in the Budget 2000, were the flagship projects ahead of an ambitious plan to establish a “necklace” of yachting marinas around the coast.

But the schemes have been dogged by controversy or delay since then. One in particular has drawn fierce criticism: a marine training centre in Kenmare got the go-ahead for grant-aid as part of the deal the previous Government had with independent TD Jackie Healy.

Only one of the four projects, at Caherciveen, Co Kerry, is fully operational at present. Proposed marinas in Roundstone and Rosses Point have still not been granted State funding because the department have not yet been fully assured they comply with the guidelines laid down.

At a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications and the Marine yesterday, Mr Fahey, who made the decision to provide funding for the four projects, said: “What we have got from the department officials is a whitewash, an attempt by officials to cover their butts.”

He alleged the department had reverted back from having the development role it had in his time as Minister, to being excessively regulatory.

Department General Secretary Brendan Tuohy said: “This was an impossible task. The Kenmare Marine Leisure project ... would have been unlikely to qualify for grant aid under the Marine Tourism Grant Scheme .... On the other hand, there was a clear and strongly communicated political need for this project to progress.”