P. J. Sheehan
Question:29 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when he will provide funding for the Baltimore pier and harbour development plan submitted to his Department in 1997. [12269/98]
Written Answers. - Harbours and Piers.
As I previously advised the Deputy, I met with representatives of Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners on 10 February 1998 to discuss their proposals for the development of the harbour at a cost of over £3 million.
The revenues generated by port users of some £8,000 per annum would not be sufficient to sustain a development of the extent proposed in the development plan. The relevant administrative and technical services of the Department have examined the proposal in the context of a national EU funded assessment of seaport capacity at all seaports, including Baltimore Harbour. This study's findings will inform policy decisions on the development and maintenance of adequate infrastructural capacity at strategic Irish ports to cope with increasing volumes of tourism and trade and to underpin future development plans to deliver that capacity.
The final report of the consultants has been completed and its findings would rule out any development of Baltimore Harbour for commercial seaborne trade. The consultants comment that ". ..very little cargo moves and the port is not considered to have any commercial capacity". Baltimore is not equipped to handle commercial cargoes and development plans suggest that this situation will not change materially in the next decade.
The implication is that there is no prospect or benefit to be gained from developing Baltimore Harbour for commercial traffic in the future. Alternative development strategies as envisaged in the Action Programme for the Millennium and Partnership 2000 would, on the face of it, be more appropriate.
The Government has committed in the Action Programme for the Millennium and in Partnership 2000 to review the strategic options for the future development and management of ports whose commercial activity has declined and to transferring small harbours to local control to develop marine leisure activities. The review is being commissioned by my Department for completion by end 1998 and the proposed Development plan will be considered in that context.