There is a dire need for dredging at Cé Heilbhic, according to Sinn Fein Councillor Conor McGuinness.
Fishermen are experiencing great difficulty in entering or leaving the harbour for some time, due to the build-up of silt and sand.
This situation is impacting the ability for local fishermen to effectively and safely carry out their work while the local lifeboat has also had difficulty launching.
Cllr. McGuinness told WLR News that something must be done immediately.
"It is actually impassible - boats can neither get in nor out at low tide because of the build-up of sand and silt. The problem has been exacerbated and is even worse because it is the home of the Dungarvan and Helvick Bay Lifeboat. There are concerns that that lifeboat may not be able to launch in an emergency situation at low tide."
Cllr. McGuinness says that the Department of the Marine must take immediate action.
"The Department is refusing to provide the necessary money to undertake the survey work that they require, before they will issue a license to dredge it", outlined Cllr. McGuinness. "They've created this perfect catch-22 situation. They have money. They actually got an additional €32m fund to spend on local authority-owned ports and harbours from the European Union under the Brexit Investment Fund, and they're still unwilling to provide that money."
Every effort for compromise has allegedly been met by a closed door.
"Government and Minister McConalogue will not provide that funding - and it is only down to a ministerial guideline that he is well within his power to change. One that doesn't really stand up and doesn't make any sense. It may be a hangover from an older way of doing things perhaps - but it is something that is well within his gift to change and it just will not be done."
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