Department of Agriculture defends role over fishery harbours

The Department of Agriculture has defended its stewardship of six fishery harbours after a "damning" Comptroller and Auditor General report which highlighted uncollected rents, failing carparks and "inadequate" accounting procedures.

Department officials appeared before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee to answer questions on the C&AG’s special report on financial reporting for fishery harbour centres.

The department took over responsibility for the six centres — which include Castletownbere, Killybegs, and Rossaveal — in 2007.