Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2015
103. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total of rent arrears in all tenancies of State property in Howth Harbour on 1 September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33654/15]
View answerThere are 70 properties in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre of which 13 are in rental arrears to the total amount of €603,395. The issues associated with the property portfolio are by and large legacy problems. On taking over responsibility for the management and operation of the Fishery Harbour Centres my Department established a dedicated Property Unit to manage the property portfolio. My Department worked closely with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to increase the legal capacity resource for progressing the often complex and protracted legal aspects relating to outstanding property cases. An additional solicitor was employed by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office at my Department’s request to deal exclusively with Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio, the cost of which is being met from the Department’s Fishery Harbour Centre Fund.
In addition, a dedicated Debt Recovery Unit was established in October 2009 to address the debt that had developed in the harbours predating my Department. In 2013, my Departments Management Advisory Committee set up a Debtor Review Group comprising of representatives from Accounts, Finance and Legal Services Divisions to assist and give direction to debtor divisions in the area of debt management. A Central Debt Management Group has been formed to monitor compliance and debt levels.
