Vol. 504 No. 6
6 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has for creating facilities for the more efficient landing and handling of fish through more investment in harbours and onshore infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12197/99]
The ongoing development of the seafood industry critically depends on the provision of safe, modern and efficient harbours and landing facilities and other onshore infrastructure. I am firmly committed to delivering the necessary level of investment which will underpin the competitiveness and efficiency of the fishing, processing and aquaculture sectors.
The fishery harbours development programme for 1999 provides for expenditure of more than £7 million at key strategic fishery harbours including Killybegs, Dingle, Castletownbere, Burtonport, Greencastle and Kilmore Quay. In addition, the small harbours programme I announced last month will facilitate and support upgrading and development works at a further 41 locations in eight counties. This important initiative represents a total investment of almost £4 million and will be a major boost for the local coastal communities in question and for the aquaculture sector and inshore fishermen in particular. These investments will also, in many instances, have the added benefit of underpinning local development and jobs in sea angling, marine tourism and leisure.
While I accept that a major contribution has been made to the major ports by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, I am concerned about the neglect of minor ports. Does the Minister agree that the reason for this is that most of the smaller ports are under the control of local authorities and therefore have been and continue to be neglected by the Department? Local authorities do not have the money and the Department does not have the responsibility for the development of smaller ports.
To a large extent that was, and to some extent still is the case. However, this year I established a special fund for those harbours and £4 million will be spent on them. Combined expenditure under the fishery harbours programme and the new small harbours programme means an increase of almost 350 per cent over 1998. This is a very large increase in infrastructural spending. Local authorities contribute £1 million and Government contributes £3 million to the special fund for small harbours which has enabled many of the projects which local authorities wished to undertake, to be tackled. A large number of projects are spread over various counties.
It is now up to local authorities to come forward with their priorities. I hope we can continue this programme and even enhance it. This year will show the value of the programme to local authorities, including the area of activity mentioned by the Deputy. If local authorities come forward with further proposals we will look at them.
Harbour development is not a priority of local authorities. It comes after roads, housing, water and sewerage on local authority priority lists. Can the Minister indicate how he can encourage local authorities to change those priorities?
The steps taken this year will encourage local authorities. For years Governments were not in a position to take an interest in their plans for harbour development and very little was done. A substantial number of small harbours are now being developed. Deputies have come to me with proposals and I have had to tell them that their local authorities have not submitted proposals to the Department.
That is exactly my point.
Now that this programme has been established, such a Deputy can point out to his local authority that other local authorities have made submissions and are receiving Government funding for their projects. I would like to see local authorities being encouraged to submit proposals in this way. A number of harbour developments have been related to aquaculture but I could not allow all the money to be spent on aquaculture. Some money has been allocated to marine leisure and other forms of development so that a balance is struck. The programme is a very good one and will encourage more development in this area.
Last week I was in Helvick and Ardmore in Waterford. Although the Minister has allocated funding for dredging in Helvick it is felt that this will not be sufficient. Can the Minister say if a submission was received for Ardmore from Waterford County Council and was there a time limit for the acceptance of submissions by the Department? This information might clarify some confusion which exists in the Ardmore area.
Deputy Deasy has raised this matter and I will follow it through.
On a point of order, the new order continues to exclude the Green Party from Priority Questions. Can I ask if this can be taken into account?
The Chair must follow the Order of the House.
The Order of the House is devised by people who are not members of the Green Party. I ask you to use your independence, sir.
I have no independence as far as the Order of the House is concerned. I must follow the Order of the House and that is exactly what I am doing.
At your discretion, sir.
7 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has for the development of Bantry pier to cater for the huge aquaculture industry established in the bay; and if funding will be provided in 1999 or 2000 for this development. [11829/99]
Bantry pier is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for maintenance and development of the facility rests with the local authority in the first instance.
A proposed development plan for Bantry harbour was prepared by the Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners in conjunction with Cork County Council in 1997 and submitted to my Department for consideration. It sets out a range of development options for the harbour, including Bantry pier itself, with estimated costs ranging between £4.8 million and £7.8 million. The plan will inform decisions about addressing infrastructural requirements for the harbour, including meeting the needs of the vitally important Bantry Bay aquaculture industry in light of available funding after 2000.
Is it the intention of the Minister's Department to extend the old railway pier to cater for the commercial traffic in Bantry Bay and to leave the present pier solely for aquaculture? Bantry Bay is the Mecca of aquaculture in Ireland. It is impossible for this industry to prosper in the confined space available to it in Bantry. Does the Minister have plans for the extension of the pier this year or in the year 2000? I do not wish to have to come to the House in five years time to ask this question again.
I hope the Deputy will still be coming for many years. The House would be very dull without him.
I intend to, with God's help.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Byrne, was in Bantry recently to examine the situation there. The council did not prioritise development in the way the Deputy has suggested but the two elements he mentioned are included in the proposed development. No further funding is available this year but it will be considered next year by which time all information should be available. A study of smaller harbours is being carried out.
The issue of aqaiculture is very important, as the Deputy has said. It will continue to be important and we will give that aspect priority throughout the country. There are problems with the pier. The county council has indicated that overcrowding can arise. If there is overcrowding in terms of developments we will need to look seriously at what can be done.
