Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013
204. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific health and safety concerns attached to the current parking scheme in Howth Harbour, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11870/13]
View answer205. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the agencies or stakeholders who have raised health and safety concerns with his Department regarding parking at Howth Harbour, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11871/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.
As I have said on a number of occasions, Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour. Its business customers include business tenants, fishing vessel owners and crew, and full access is required for commercial traffic servicing the fishing side and its various ancillary enterprises. A wide range of other users use the harbour, including commuters using the DART service, yacht club members, walkers, tourists and other social users. This combination of uses of the Harbour brings its own inherent dangers and it is essential that the needs of all users are accommodated as far as possible in a safe and secure facility. Health and Safety concerns must be paramount in the management of the Harbour.
Traffic and parking management within the Harbour itself has been an issue for some time, particularly in the light of concerns raised about safety and emergency access for the Coastguard, the Lifeboat service, and an Gárda Síochána. There have been a number of occasions where the volume of cars in the Harbour and the resultant pressure on parking has led to a situation where emergency access has been seriously compromised. The Harbour authorities have received specific complaints from elements of the emergency services in that regard. Fortunately no serious incident has arisen yet. Enabling works and upgrading works have been taking place over a number of months in order to improve traffic management within the Harbour and a number of additional measures are being considered. All aspects of health and safety within the Harbour are of course kept under constant review
