There are fears that unless Sligo Port is soon dredged, it could eventually be closed to commercial shipping.
A number of Sligo councillors are voicing their concern about the port's future, with Independent Socialist Councillor Declan Bree pointing out that, according to a recent report, silt volumes in the harbour have nearly doubled since 2011.
Councillors Gino O'Boyle, Michael Clarke, Rosaleen O'Grady and Tom Fox have called on the council to contact the relevant government department to cover the cost of a full dredging of the harbour and its navigation channel.
Cllr Bree points out that apart from Killybegs, Sligo is the only working port between Galway and Derry.
And because it's an objective of the council to retain the port as a viable operation, Cllr Bree is now asking the local authority for its proposals for the retention, development and improvement of the port.
