Vol. 480 No. 3
14 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the urgent necessity of dredging Burtonport Harbour, County Donegal; the current position regarding the proposed dredging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13957/97]
I am aware of the need for additional dredging works at Burtonport Harbour. Funding has been provided in the 1997 fishery harbour development programme towards the cost of the necessary technical investigations which are a prerequisite of such a scheme. A dredging programme will be considered in the light of the findings of the site investigations. The Department is currently in discussion with Donegal County Council on the practical arrangements for undertaking the technical investigations. I am advised that the county council will take a decision shortly on whether it is in a position to undertake these works directly with, of course, whatever practical assistance the Department's engineers can provide.
15 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Marine when the lease of Comhar Iascairí Éireann Teoranta at West Pier, Howth, County Dublin will be renewed in view of the impressive record and plans of this co-operative. [14006/97]
I fully agree with the Deputy on the importance of ensuring a viable future for the fishermen based in Howth. On all the advice available to me, however, I am not convinced that the co-operative in question, as presently constituted, is the appropriate vehicle for progressing the interests of the fishermen concerned. It is also the case that, given the unsatisfactory history of the cooperative's tenancy at Howth over the years, I am not in a position to renew the lease to which the Deputy refers.
In order to take matters forward, however, I have requested the Department, in consultation with the Howth fishermen, to review all possible options for encouraging the take-up of genuine fishing opportunities, together with scope for a soundly-based strategy to facilitate marketing, distribution and value-added.
