My Department owns, manages and maintains six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. All six Fishery Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours. However each centre has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both and economic and social perspective.
All of the Fishery Harbour Centres contain marine repair facilities provided by the Department however the synchrolift repair facility in Dunmore East is not currently operational due to the siltation problem in that harbour. In addition, private companies operating from premises in Howth, Castletownbere and Killybegs also provide marine repair services.
Properties located in the Fishery Harbour Centres, including Howth, are made available for tenancy under the relevant Government Procedures in place covering the management of State property. When appropriate, sites and properties are offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of an open competitive tendering process in accordance with good practice and public procurement guidelines. In 2013, my Department held public competitive tendering processes for vacant sites in three Fishery Harbour Centres including Howth. These tender processes were open to all interested parties on an equal basis. The property in Howth was among the properties successfully tendered in this round.
Plans with regard to potential future uses for vacant properties at the Fishery Harbour Centres are kept under ongoing review by my Department. Consideration is given to demand for particular services should such demands become apparent, subject to public procurement guidelines as set out by Government. The current situation in relation to Howth is that there are some sites and properties not in use. A number of these on the East Pier would never be viable for commercial enterprise and others are subject to structural repair and other pre-tendering preparation issues before they can be made available.
There have been expressions of interest from individuals for a number of activities including a marine repair service. Where requested, interested parties have been met and the Government procedures for the disposal of State Property have been explained to these parties. Individuals who expressed an interest will be in a position to tender for the sites that become available in 2015.
