The Government has appointed a consultant to market the Killybegs fishery harbour in Co Donegal, which last year received €50 million in State investment.  Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent, reports.

The Killybegs project, funded by State and EU grants, was approved after a 20-year campaign, but there is a belief that it came a little too late for a fishing fleet which is under serious pressure due to rising fuel prices, shrinking quotas, tighter monitoring and landing restrictions, which have contributed to cutbacks in processing onshore.

The consultant, Ms Helen Kerrigan of Galway, will be charged with developing a marketing plan and pursuing new business opportunities to ensure that the "full potential" of Killybegs is realised, according to the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher.

"The opportunity to attract new business for the facility will be fully explored from a number of perspectives, including local industry, offshore and tourism," he said at the weekend.

The project is expected to take between three and six months, and will focus on the fact that the fishery harbour has "the finest deepwater quay on the entire island" and is accessible at all stages of the tide, Mr Gallagher said.

Ms Kerrigan previously worked with Galway Harbour, and her appointment was made following a competitive tender.