Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
53 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the serious public concern at the implications of the proposed sale of Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours; if his Department has made an assessment of the implications of the sale for marine policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19212/04]
View answerI am aware of the concerns expressed regarding the decision by Dublin Port Company to place Balbriggan Harbour and Skerries Harbour on the open market to be sold by public tender. I am informed by Dublin Port Company that it has decided to offer the two harbours for sale because they constitute a burden on the users of Dublin Port as the company derives no revenue whatsoever from them. My Department has confirmed that the decision of the company to offer the harbours for sale is not incompatible with its commercial remit under the Harbours Act 1996. The two harbours are non-core assets of the company, the principal object of which is to provide facilities and services for ships, goods and passengers.
It is the long-standing policy of my Department that these harbours should be transferred to local control. The Harbours Act 1996 provides for the transfer of the two harbours to Fingal County Council. However, the order to commence the relevant provision of the Act has never been made. The principal reason the transfer has not taken place is that Fingal County Council states it is not in a position to agree to the transfer in the absence of a commitment to Exchequer funding of €10 million for remedial and maintenance works on the harbours.
As the deadline for the conclusion of the tender process by Dublin Port Company approaches, my Department is facilitating discussions involving public representatives, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Fingal County Council and Dublin Port Company. The focus of these discussions is on exploring whether there exists an alternative approach to the sale of the two harbours on the open market.
