Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 October 2018
173. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the works proposed for Killybegs Harbour centre will proceed as planned in 2018 and 2019; if the next phase of the deep sea dredging works will be tendered for in the last quarter of 2018 as already committed to; if the funding for the project is ring-fenced and secure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41299/18]
View answer174. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the €10 million required for the Killybegs Harbour centre is budgeted for in the 2019 estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41300/18]
View answer175. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe for the tendering and complete delivery of the next phase of the Killybegs Harbour centre extension, specifically the deep sea dredging which will prepare for works, including the construction of the extension to the harbour and provision of a harbour wall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41301/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together.
Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
The Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC) has been attracting increasing levels of fishing, commercial cargo and cruise liner activity and the need for additional berthage has been recognised. The Smooth Point project, when complete, will provide an additional 120 metres of sheltered berthage to a depth of -9.0m Chart datum in Killbegs FHC. In addition to facilitating the increased activity, it would also enable relocating larger fishing from the Blackrock Pier to the new berthage area.
Because some of the material to be dredged was contaminated, the project was divided into two phases. Work on phase 1 of the project which entailed the dredging and removal of the contaminated commenced in 2017 and has been completed in 2018 at a cost of approximately €6.5m.
€3.5m was allocated for phase 1 in 2018 however as additional work was carried out as part these works an extra €0.7m had to be allocated in 2018 to complete it bringing the expected total spend in 2018 to €4.2m.
It is now proposed to issue tenders for phase 2 in 2019, with works commencing next year and a completion date in 2020. This phase involves the dredging of the remaining uncontaminated material and construction of the 120 metres of berthing space. The final costs of phase 2 will only be determined following the competitive tendering process, however it is estimated to be in the region of €9m.
The funding available for the Fishery Harbour Centre capital programme for 2019 has been increased by €6.284m to €27.284m All developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres are considered under annual capital programmes on the basis of available Exchequer funding. No decisions on the detailed capital programme for 2019 have been taken at this stage. That said, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to tendering for and commencing Phase 2 of the project at Smooth Point in 2019 and completing it in 2020.
