Terence Flanagan
Question:134. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for Howth Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6676/15]
View answerTuesday, 17 February 2015
Questions (134)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
My question concerns the Minister's plans for Howth Harbour which is a fishery harbour, as well as containing marine, leisure and tourism facilities.
I thank the Deputy for this question. I know that he is interested in Howth Harbour. Howth fishery harbour centre is one of the six designated fishery harbour centres owned, managed and maintained by my Department. All six fishery centres are, first and foremost, working fishery harbours. However, each centre has unique features, facilitating a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective. This is particularly the case in Howth Harbour which offers multiple uses. My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non-fishing activities at the harbours and endeavours to facilitate and develop both. This involves day-to-day operational support by harbour staff and management and the development and repair of infrastructure, subject to available financial resources.
Howth fishery harbour centre is no exception to this diversity. While, first and foremost, a working fishery harbour, my Department is conscious that it is also a very important tourist destination and a major venue for leisure activities. A wide range of recreational users rely on the harbour, including the yacht club, sport fishermen, walkers, tourists and other social users. A significant number of businesses, particularly restaurants, also operate in the harbour. With this in mind, the Department is anxious to increase the profile of the harbour for the betterment of the wider community.
Notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, I am happy to advise the House that in excess of €3.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth Harbour as part of my Department's fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme for 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. In March 2014, I approved funding of €1.18 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Harbour.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Major works for 2014 included the continued upgrading of the electrical system.
The fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme for 2015 is currently under consideration. Decisions on the projects for inclusion under this programme will be based on an evaluation of the priorities across the six fishery harbour centres taking due account of the overall funds available. Balancing the needs of the fishing industry with those of the wider range of harbour users while delivering on a public service remit will be foremost when considering future developments in the harbour. Of course, any new developments will be done on the basis of available Exchequer funding and competing national priorities.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He is no stranger to Howth and is very aware of the natural beauty of this scenic location and of its connectivity with the city as a DART terminus. The harbour is very much under-utilised and there are long-standing issues regarding leases on vacant properties while the frontage of some shops and other units could be very much improved. Can the Minister set out the vision he has for the Howth and the other fishery harbours? Howth is particularly under-utilised in respect of marine leisure and tourism where there is huge potential. I acknowledge that one needs a stream of income but if the vacant properties were properly leased there would be more income. There is also dredging to be done in the harbour and other jobs. Ship and boat repairs are not carried out in Howth. Sadly, that work takes place in Kilkeel in County Down due to an under-investment in Howth. Can the Minister set out the actions he is in a position to take?
I will give the Deputy an idea of the approved funding and expenditure in 2014. We approved the design and planning of pontoons between the middle and west piers at a cost of €100,000, almost €60,000 of which has been spent. There was an assignment of €80,000 for a syncrolift platform for painting and repairs, of which €45,000 has been spent. A sum of €20,000 was approved for the upgrade of navigational lights and markers but more than that has been spent. A sum of €150,000 was approved for east pier repairs, of which €111,000 has been spent. A sum of €500,000 was allocated to upgrade the electrical system which was causing major problems for businesses and harbour users and most of that money has been spent. A sum of €20,000 has been spent to provide disability access while €310,000 was allocated for safety and maintenance, most of which has been spent. In total €1.18 million was allocated and more than €1 million has been spent.
There is no lack of commitment to the harbour in the Department but we share the facility with other users. Howth has extraordinary potential as a leisure harbour as well as a fisheries harbour. I know Howth Yacht Club very well and have been there many times. There is significant potential for leisure, tourism and passenger ferries perhaps on a small scale to take people around Dublin Bay. There was a project proposal to connect Dún Laoghaire with Howth last year and we spoke to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport about putting a kiosk in place in Howth to facilitate that. We will continue to work with our partners to try to build broad commercial activity in the harbour but we must also maintain a functioning fishing harbour in the context of developing those other activities.
I appreciate the Minister's response but while there has been a sizeable amount of investment, repair work to boats is taking place in County Down rather than here. The State is losing money in that regard. There is also the issue of leases on empty properties where the State should be collecting money. Hopefully, that is something that could be looked at further. There is concern in Howth about the length of time it can take for decisions to be made.
Decisions are made in Clonakilty, and the length of time it takes is an ongoing criticism. I hope the Minister will be able to follow through and ensure the harbour is used more for boat repairs.
I assure the Deputy that the fact that decisions are made in Clonakilty does not delay anything. Much of the marine side of my Department is based in Clonakilty and it is an efficient operation. BIM, which is also involved in many of the fisheries development programmes in Howth and elsewhere, has its headquarters in Dún Laoghaire, although it has a seafood development programme in Clonakilty. There are issues around leasing arrangements in all our fishing harbours. Some people owe money and are not paying up, and we need to pursue them because we are trying to run commercial harbours as well as facilitate business growth and employment creation. There is always an element of friction between landlords and tenants in some of these industrial units and it is the same in some of our other fisheries harbours. There are some individual examples, about which we have spoken, in which we are trying to make progress with the tenant and the business operating there. Sometimes it is difficult and sometimes there are court cases ongoing which prevent me from being able to speak about them. I take the point that if there are vacant properties in places such as Howth, which is potentially a very attractive destination for businesses such as seafood processing, restaurants, food development and tourism development, we should be examining the opportunities when we can. I will follow up on it.