Skip to main content
Normal View

Fishery Harbour Centre.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004

Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Questions (27)

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

115 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will honour a commitment made by his predecessor on 15 May 2001, that if he received a request from Dingle Harbour Commissioners to designate the harbour as a fishery harbour centre, he would immediately do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5750/04]

View answer

Written answers

At present Dingle harbour operates under the Harbours Act 1946 with Dingle Harbour Commissioners being the responsible authority for the management, control and operation of the harbour. Currently, the five fishery harbour centres, Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Rossaveel and Killybegs, are owned by my Department and are directly managed by the Department under the Fishery Harbour Centres Acts 1968 to 1998. Section 4(1) of the 1968 Act requires that I manage, control, operate and develop each of the fishery harbour centres. Section 6 of that Act places specific responsibility on me in regard to maintenance, repair, improvement, extension and modification of the harbour including buildings and road access.

In 2001, my predecessor, the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, established a review group to consider suitable future structures for the harbours. This review group was chaired by Professor Jim Ward of UCG and comprised representatives of each of the five fishery harbour centres and Dingle together with representatives of the Department, BIM and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The group considered a range of options, however, it was not possible to achieve consensus on the way forward. Management arrangements for the fishery harbour centres are subject to ongoing review in the context of further streamlining of the executive functions of the Department. The position of Dingle harbour will be considered in the context of that review.

In many respects, Dingle has the benefits of fishery harbour centre status in that for capital investment purposes Dingle is treated as a fishery harbour centre and the commissioners are not expected to contribute the normal 25% towards development works, which is required in respect of other harbours. Apart altogether from the ongoing review of executive functions at my Department, there are various arrangements to be put in place before Dingle can be designated as a fishery harbour centre.

Top
Share