Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
118. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans for the development of Howth Harbour, County Dublin; if he will consider having a report carried out on the potential of the harbour from a marine and tourism viewpoint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24895/14]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre in County Dublin is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department. While Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour, there are also a wide range of recreational users of the harbour, including the yacht club, sport fishermen, walkers, tourists and other social users.
Notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, I am happy to be able to advise that in excess of €3.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2013. This investment has resulted in a significant improvement in the electrical infrastructure available, the traffic management system and the access available to persons of reduced mobility. It has also served as a catalyst for the enhancement of facilities available to the marine leisure and tourism sector, boat repair facilities and indeed business generally in the harbour.
On the 20th March 2014 I approved funding of €1.18 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre this year. Major works for 2014 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system.
The development and upkeep of Howth as a state of the art Fishery Harbour Centre, supporting a broad range of marine related activities is and will remain an ongoing process. It is undertaken having regard to Harbour Users views which are elicited through regular communication with them and via the annual Harbour Users Forum which was most recently held on 23January 2014. I am open to consider any suggestions for the future development of Howth subject to available exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
