Vol. 314 No. 10
asked the Minister for Finance to whom harbour dues are payable for the use of Dún Laoghaire harbour; the basis upon which harbour dues are charged; the rates of such dues and the basis upon which any increases are made in the charging of harbour dues.
9.
asked the Minister for Finance how many pleasure craft berths are located in Dún Laoghaire harbour and the range of charges for such berths.
10.
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of Dún Laoghaire harbour used for commercial purposes and to whom commercial harbour dues are payable.
11.
asked the Minister for Finance if any separate accounts are kept for the payment of harbour dues for the use of Dún Laoghaire harbour by commercial craft and pleasure craft; and if these accounts are published and made accessible to the public.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 together.
Harbour dues at Dún Laoghaire harbour are payable to the Commissioners of Public Works who administer the harbour under the State Harbours Act, 1924. The rates of such dues or any variations thereof are regulated in accordance with section 7 of the Act. When fixing harbour dues regard is had to the relationship between expenditure and receipts and to the charges made for similar traffic in other harbours. The schedule of rates, which runs to 24 pages, is available for inspection in the Office of Public Works and at the harbour master's office at Dún Laoghaire. The current rates of the principal revenue-producing items apart from miscellaneous goods, are
(i) ships 10p per ton
(ii) cars and vehicles 100p per ton
There are mooring berths for approximately 500 pleasure craft in the harbour and the current harbour charge is £5 per annum for each berth.
Commercial operations are concentrated mainly at the Mailboat Pier, St. Michael's Wharf and the Trader's Wharf.
Records are kept of harbour dues received for commercial craft and pleasure craft. Separate accounts for Dún Laoghaire harbour are not published. The Appropriation Accounts which are published annually are related to the provisions as detailed in the relevant annual Estimates.
Would it be possible for people who are interested in identifying actual receipts from pleasure craft in the Dún Laoghaire area to have that information made available?
I am sure it would be possible, but separate accounts are not published for Dún Laoghaire harbour.
In his reply did the Minister not indicate that in the Appropriation Accounts the Dún Laoghaire section would be isolated so that the actual revenue from Dún Laoghaire could be identified?
As I said in my reply, there are mooring berths for 500 pleasure craft which cost £5 each per annum.
Are there any proposals to increase or to modify in any way the charges for mooring craft?
It is intended to increase all rates in 1979 to cover increasing maintenance and capital costs, but of course due regard must be had to tourism and amenity interests.
