Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
509. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if extra funding will be provided for additional berthage at Dún Laoghaire Harbour and Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43755/18]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is responsible for the maintenance and development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour in the first instance; the Council's parent Department is the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
As indicated, my legislative remit does not extend to Dún Laoghaire Harbour, and given that the ownership of, and overall responsibility for the Harbour rests with the County Council, it is the Council who will decide if it wishes to carry out any further development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
Any application for funding from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in relation to Dún Laoghaire Harbour under future programmes will be given due consideration in the context of the criteria set out and available Exchequer funding.
Under the Harbours Act of 1996, the Dublin Port Company was established as stand-alone economic entity with a mandate to sustain and grow the business of Dublin Port. Any queries in relation to the future development of Dublin Port should be directed to the Dublin Port company.
