asked the Minister for the Marine, in respect of each maritime harbour in the State, if he will give (i) its location (ii) its capacity (iii) its use between commercial and recreational/pleasure craft (iv) the total amount of capital sums which have been spent to date (v) the present expenditure on the harbour and (vi) the proposals, if any, for future expenditure; if he has a comprehensive ports policy for the harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Maritime Harbours.
27.
The information requested by the Deputy at (i) to (iii) of this question is in the form of a tabular statement which is being circulated in the Official Report.
Proposals have been prepared by the Government for the development of the main Irish commercial ports. These proposals are included in the national development plan for Ireland which was recently submitted to the EC. Expenditure will be concentrated particularly on Dublin, Rosslare, Waterford and Cork ports and will involve the following elements: provision of appropriate berthing facilities; investment in improved facilities, including bulk cranes, lift-on/lift-off equipment and terminal buildings. The estimated total cost of the proposed investments in commercial ports under the aegis of my Department between now and 1993 will be about £59 million. This level of investment will ensure that the commercial ports are developed on a basis which will maximise their contribution to the integrated development of the economy and the provision of essential transport support services for industry.
The Shannon Estuary Development Corporation Bill which is at present before the House is indicative of my view that the remit of commercial harbours should extend to marine-related tourist, recreation and amenity facilities where opportunity for such facilities exists and where these facilities would not be incompatible with the principal function of the harbour which is to provide a safe, cost effective and efficient service to exporters and importers.
The Exchequer provision for commercial harbours this year is £429,000. It is proposed to direct the bulk of this money to quay reconstruction works at Drogheda Harbour. The Exchequer provision for fishery harbours this year amounts to £3.1 million. This money is mainly earmarked for development works at Rossaveel, Killybegs and Dingle. The amounts of money to be spent on each of the harbours mentioned above will be determined by the amount of work which is carried out during the year. As the Deputy is aware, progress on harbour development is subject to a number of conditions including climate.
Expenditure by the commercial harbours from their own resources is a matter for the harbour authorities. Should the Deputy wish to obtain information on particular harbours I will ask the harbour authorities to supply more detailed information to him.
|
Capacity (largest vessel which can |
Use (commercial/ |
|
|
Harbour/Location |
be accommodated) |
recreational/pleasure craft) |
|
1. Cork |
Upper Harbour: 14,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
Ringaskiddy: 60,000 dwt |
||
|
2. Dublin |
30,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
3. Limerick |
Limerick docks: 4,000 dwt Shannon Estuary: 180,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
4. Waterford |
7,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
5. Arklow, Co. Wicklow |
1,500 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
6. Drogheda, Co. Louth |
2,500 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
7. Dundalk |
2,500 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
Co. Louth |
||
|
8. Foynes, Co. Limerick |
35,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
9. Galway |
10,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
10. Cappa Pier, Kilrush,Co. Clare |
2,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
11. Kinsale, Co. Cork |
1,500 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
12. New Ross,Co. Wexford |
6,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
13. Sligo |
2,300 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
14. Fenit, Co. Kerry |
8,000 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
15. Wicklow |
2,500 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
16. Youghal,Co. Cork |
1,300 dwt |
Primarily commercial |
|
17. Dun Laoghaire,Co. Dublin |
Car ferry Pier: vessels up to 142m. in length and 17.4m. beam. Mail Boat Pier: vessels up to 134m. length and 22m. beam |
Commercial/Recreational |
|
18. Killybegs, Co. Donegal |
Fishing vessels up to 140m length and 7.5m. draught |
Primarily fishing |
|
19. Rossaveel, Co.Galway |
Fishing vessels up to 28m max. draught 3.9m. (pier length = 125m.) |
Primarily fishing |
|
20. Castlebownbere,Co. Cork |
Length: 110m. Draught: 4.2m. |
Primarily fishing |
|
21. Howth,Co. Dublin |
Length: 90m. Draught: 8m. |
Primarily fishing |
|
22. Dunmore East, |
Length: 40m. |
|
|
Co. Waterford |
Draught: 3.5m. |
Primarily fishing |
Notes
(a) dwt. = Deadweight tonnage.
(b) The harbours at 1 to 16 above are commercial harbours i.e. harbours scheduled to the Harbours Acts, 1946 to 1976 and under the aegis of my Department. There are also scheduled harbours at Annagassan (Co. Louth), Ballyshannon, Baltimore, Bantry Bay, Buncrana, Dingle, River Moy (Ballina, Co. Mayo), Westport and Wexford and Wexford but there is little commercial traffic at these ports at present.
(c) Other important ports which also cater for commercial traffic are Rosslare which is managed and operated by Iarnrod Éireann and Greenore and Arklow Jetty which are privately owned.
(d) Responsibility for Dún Laoghaire Harbour has recently been transferred, on an agency basis, to my Department from the Office of Public Works.