Harbours and Piers

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Questions (524)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

524. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the recent introduction of restricted access hours for those requiring the use of a syncrolift operated by his Department at Killybegs Harbour, County Donegal; if this limits access to the device to traditional office hours and only when authorised personnel are present; if he is aware of claims that such restrictions are unworkable given that such a device may only be deployed during times when favourable tidal conditions are present; if he is further aware of the adverse impact which these measures are having on the various industries operating within the region which make use of the device for fleet maintenance; his plans to reconsider these measures and lift these new restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15974/16]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.

A decision to temporarily limit the lifting times of the syncrolift was reluctantly taken due to a shortage of trained personnel in Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. The question of safety is always paramount in our operational decisions and it was with this in mind that this necessary course of action was adopted. Of course emergency cases will be dealt with as a matter of priority.

My Department is pursuing the matter in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding recruitment of additional General Operatives across all six Fishery Harbour Centres. We would hope to expedite the recruitment process as soon as this is progressed.

Once the recruitment process has been completed and sufficient additional staff trained in the operation of the syncrolift, the temporary restrictions will be lifted.