asked the Minister for the Marine if he has any plans for the dredging of Fenit Harbour, County Kerry to facilitate access to the port by larger vessels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kerry Harbour Dredging.
15.
I had a meeting with representatives of Tralee and Fenit Pier and Harbour Commissioners on 16 February 1989 to discuss the dredging of Fenit harbour. Arising from that meeting I have arranged for one of my engineers to visit the harbour and report on the dredging problem and have asked the Tralee and Fenit Pier and Harbour Commissioners for additional information so that the need for dredging can be properly assessed and considered. When the engineer's report and the information requested is received, the matter will be further considered.
In view of the fact that Fenit Harbour has lost out considerably in recent times because of lack of investment in the port infrastructure there, would the Minister consider sympathetically any proposals that come before him from the harbour commissioners for future development? I would point out that Fenit is the major port in Kerry and for that reason deserves further investment.
After Clogherhea.
The Deputy would have people competing in relation to the importance of other ports in Kerry. I appreciate what he is saying, however. The Deputy will be aware of the deputation, attended by the public representatives, which I recently met. I pointed out that I should like to examine the situation in Fenit from a number of points of view, not merely from the commercial aspect. I am talking about the provision of tourist and leisure facilities there, of the provision of recreational and other amenities as well as the commercial and fisheries aspects. Following the meeting, I also received a submission from Fenit for inclusion in the mid-west regional programme for structural funding. That has been sent to Shannon Free Airport Development Company.
I have some detailed information which I should like to discuss with the Deputy. If he is available to do so, I can supply him with some additional requests for information which we sent to the commissioners, to enable us to make a proper assessment of the situation. What I should like to see is an overall development plan for Fenit Harbour area generally, taking into account all the other aspects of development down there. The Deputy should not forget that the limited funds that are available this year for commercial harbours have already been earmarked for the Deputy's colleague on the front bench, Deputy McGahon.
I thank the Minister very much.
The Deputy has already procured some funding for Drogheda. We would like to see the necessary discussion take place as soon as possible with the various interests and groups there. Apart from our Department, the Shannon Free Airport Development Company have responsibility there and also the county council. Between all the State agencies, it should be possible to put an overall development plan in place.
Briefly, will any funding be available this year for Fenit?
I would like, first, to see an overall development plan in place for Fenit Harbour before we can discuss that aspect. The engineers whom we have instructed to visit have not reported back yet. They have not been to Fenit Harbour. If it is possible to get those engineers together with the Kerry engineers, it may be possible to arrange some immediate work that could be done.
There are some commercial operators using the harbour here and they, too, have responsibilities in this respect. If all interested parties could get together with regard to an overall plan, some progress could be made in an area which has been neglected in the past.
Let us now come to deal with Question No. 17 from Deputy McGahon.