Vol. 384 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Marine (a) the number of marina proposals at present with his Department (b) the present stage of development of each of these and (c) if he will outline the finance available from his Department and the EC for such developments.
165.
asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of boating marinas being considered for financial assistance.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 165 together. There are nine marina development proposals with my Department at present, apart from Dún Laoghaire, and these will fall to be licensed under the Foreshore Act, 1933. The applications are at various stages in a process operated by my Department.
There is no grant-aid system in operation for marina development.
Could the Minister be a little more specific and outline to the House exactly where these nine applications have come from and what varying stages of development each of these is at? Can the Minister explain to this House why there is no grant aid available for such developments while the Minister for the Marine has given us to understand that grant aid is available?
The main role of the Department is to create a positive environment for such developments. We are doing that. All development proposals are considered by the foreshore section of the Department under sections 2 and 3 of the 1933 Act. EC support may be available for structural development projects which may have a marina component but there is no direct grant aid available for a marina per se. However, if a marina is part of the overall development grant aid may be available. I should like to tell the Deputy that there are five stages involved in the processing of applications. The first stage is the receipt and processing of the application. At the second stage further information may be required. At the third stage an advertisement may have to be placed in the newspapers by an applicant, if that is recommended by the Department. The next stage is when the Department may have to consider objections to the proposal and the decision making stage is the final one. There are three proposals being considered under the heading “further information”, four under the stage where we consider objections and two are awaiting decisions.
Will the Minister name the two projects awaiting decisions? Have the Department a co-ordinated plan in regard to the building of marinas around our coast? What promotional efforts are being undertaken by the Department in England, Europe and the United States in order to attract big yachts here so as to make the marinas viable propositions?
It would be unwise to give the names of the two projects. Applications come from harbour authorities and individuals. I should like to tell the Deputy that one of the projects awaiting decision is Dunbur in County Wicklow and the second is at Cheekpoint in County Waterford. I should like to repeat that the main role of the Department is to create a positive environment for such a development. Marinas should be commercial propositions. Most of the applicants are aware that grants are not available for such projects unless they form part of a harbour development. In such cases applications come from harbour authorities.
I am surprised at the reply by the Minister because the Minister for the Marine made great play about marina development in his speech to the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis and in his Estimates speech to the House.
I must ask for relevant and brief supplementaries. I must dissuade the Member from making a speech at Question Time.
My supplementaries are relevant. In view of the positive statements by the Minister for the Marine I was disappointed with the response of the Minister of State today. Will the Minister be more specific and tell us what has been done by the Department in relation to constructive promotional efforts in the UK, Europe and America? If that type of work is not taking place I do not think marinas constructed here will prove commercially viable.
I could understand the Deputy's concern if we had not received any application but we have received nine applications. I have advised the Deputy that two of these applications are at an advanced stage in the process. I do not think the Deputy should be critical of the Department if we seek further information. We must take the common good into consideration and take into account any objections to such projects. We must ensure that marinas do not affect navigation, traditional sea harvesters or existing amenities. It is accepted that we are creating an environment for investment in such projects. We have been told that by the year 2000 the greatest single industry will be that of leisure and we hope that marinas here will benefit from that.
Will the Minister say if he is happy with the proposal for a marina at Cheekpoint in County Waterford? Will he say if the project is at a stage where the work can proceed and if it will be grant-aided by the Government?
I have indicated that two applications are awaiting decision and that one of them relates to Cheekpoint in County Waterford. A lease has been offered there.
Is the Minister happy with the proposal from a navigational point of view?
We are happy with the proposal from a navigational point of view. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the way we deal with applications and will accept that it is watertight. We are happy with the Cheekpoint proposal and have offered a lease in respect of it.
Have any objections been received or has the time limit expired?
I do not have that information but I can only assume that there may have been objections. In that event we would have taken the common good into account. Objections are raised to most applications and the easiest thing to do in response to them is to do nothing but we take the common good into consideration.
I acknowledge that this is a specialised question but I should like to ask the Minister to supply me with the up-to-date information on the County Waterford project.
I will supply the Deputy with that information.
