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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1976

Vol. 294 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harbour Development.

18.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department has any plans for the provision of further major harbours; and if he will state where these are to be developed.

Five harbours are scheduled for development as fishery harbour centres under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act, 1968. I do not propose to add to the list of such harbours. This does not, however, preclude the carrying out of improvement works of a substantial nature at other ports.

Do I take it from the Minister's reply that there are no plans in his Department for a further extension of the major harbour schemes?

That is what I have said. There are no plans for new major harbour works but that does not exclude substantial improvement works in other harbours. As the Deputy knows, a substantially increased amount of money is being provided every year for harbour development.

In view of the proposed development in the fishing industry would the Minister not accept that there is a need for forward planning and that, with the 300 boats we are supposed to be getting in two or three years, this type of development is necessary?

I am told there are sufficient plans to enable us to get on with harbour improvements all around the coast if the money was there and if it was felt it was needed at a particular time. Forward planning is not essential because what needs to be done is well known.

Is the Minister aware that in certain harbours around our coast we have not got adequate berthage for our boats? We have committed ourselves to increase our catch by 100 per cent in the next two years. How do we envisage catching the fish if we have not got berthage for our boats around our coastline?

All I can tell the Deputy is that there have been substantial increases year after year in the amount of money provided by this Government for harbour development.

Has the Minister considered that the new harbour at Rossaveel is a major fishery harbour and has been designated as such by his Department?

That seems to be a rather specific question.

It is not included in the question put down so I cannot give a reply.

I am getting off this question. I have already allowed a number of supplementaries to it.

The Minister mentioned the figure five, and I am sure his brief shows which they are.

Castletownbere, Dunmore East, Galway, Howth and Killybegs.

So the answer is in the negative.

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