Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 8

Written Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Recreational Facilities.

Helen Keogh

Question:

277 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Marine the reason his Department has not identified any projects for recreational or leisure facilities at Dún Laoghaire harbour four years after the completion of the development plan; if there is still a Government commitment to provide funding for the recreational and leisure development of Dún Laoghaire harbour; and if so, when work is expected to commence. [7603/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Coveney)

The Government is strongly committed to the optimum development of the leisure and recreational potential of Dún Laoghaire harbour. One of my first actions on becoming Minister for the Marine was to arrange a meeting between the Minister, Minister of State and all the sailing/boating clubs, representatives of the harbour board and the Department of the Marine to discuss future marine developments and associated issues.

Already much has been achieved. Improvements have been made to facilities including resurfacing in the public boatyard. Improvements have also been carried out to the fabric and management structure of the marine activity centre. Refurbishment work has been completed on the east pier and a major new sewage treatment scheme has been completed.

Work is under way on reopening the slipway in the old harbour which will improve facilities for dinghy users, rowing boats, canoeists and sail training. In addition, the harbour management is advancing with the introduction, on a trial basis initially, of a fore and aft mooring regime in the old harbour for the coming sailing season thereby increasing the number of moorings available.

As regards major new recreational works such as marinas in the harbour, the essential base technical information including detailed site investigation and comprehensive wave analysis, has been completed. The information obtained from these studies has been made available to interested parties.

Comprehensive consultations through the recreation committee of the harbour board with users and other parties, have elicited a number of potential development and recreational projects. If these prove to be technically and financially viable and attract a reasonable degree of support, they will be progressed to the planning stage. Work on developing these proposals is continuing.