Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2015
101. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recent lettings in Howth Harbour in 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will indicate how upcoming vacancies and tenders were advertised and how the competition for rental of these premises was conducted by his Department and by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33652/15]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned and managed by my Department under Statute. Responsibility for the management of the Fishery Harbour Centres’ property portfolio is solely under my Department’s remit and the Office of Public Works has no role in this regard. The property portfolio in Howth encompasses a range of diverse properties reflecting its remit as a working fishery harbour and its unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective.
The selection of properties for leasing is based on factors such as availability, potential income, interest level, the potential benefit to the harbour itself and prevailing economic conditions.
Properties are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of open competitive tendering process in accordance with normal public procurement guidelines. Maintaining a fair and transparent process where all interested parties are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in such competitions is a priority.
On Monday 15 June 2015 my Department offered two properties for tenancy under lease agreement at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre by competitive public tender. The competitions were advertised on my Department’s website, in a national and local newspaper and within the harbour and were open to all interested parties. Both competitions followed the same format which was developed in conjunction with my Department’s legal advisors. The format was included in the published Tender Documents which are still available on my Department’s website. The successful and unsuccessful Tenderers for these competitions have been notified and the finalisation of the lease agreements is well advanced.
There was no competitive tendering process undertaken in 2014 for Fishery Harbour Centre property, including Howth.
