Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 4

Written Answers. - Courtown (Wexford) Harbour.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

137 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties at Courtown Harbour, County Wexford in which a machine is permanently required to dredge the mouth of the harbour to allow access to fishing and leisure craft, that a machine has always been there, that a replacement had to be obtained by the local fisherman's association in view of the poor condition of the original machine; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the replacement machine, as was the case with the original, cannot be removed from Courtown; his views on whether the machine is a permanent fixture in the harbour; the portion, if any, of the purchase price of the machine he will pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8360/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Ongoing maintenance dredging of the mouth at Courtown harbour is a matter for the appropriate harbour authority, which in this instance is Wexford County Council. Therefore, the provision of the required plant for such maintenance dredging, such as a dragline, is a matter for the council. In certain circumstances, grant aid is available under the Operational Programme for Fisheries 1994-1999 towards the purchase of harbour equipment. However, such aid is not available for any equipment which would be classified as a mobile asset. Dredging equipment would fall into that category. The fact that a piece of plant or equipment is retained in one location is not the defining issue in whether it is regarded as a mobile asset. Dredging equipment is usually capable of being moved from harbour to harbour.

The question of whether a contribution can be made to the cost of dredging at Courtown Harbour only arises in relation to consideration being given to undertaking a scheme of capital dredging at the harbour within the limits of finance available to me. It is not proposed to aid such a scheme in the foreseeable future.