Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
487. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if extra funding will be provided for additional berthing space at Howth Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2495/19]
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.
I am happy to advise the Deputy that between the years 2010 to 2018, as part of my Department's Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, in excess of €10 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre.
The provision of additional berthing space on the Middle Pier in Howth has been under consideration by the Department and some preparatory work has been carried out. Additional berthing space would, in addition to relieving vessel congestion issues, enable greater segregation between the activities of fishing vessels and the marine tourism and leisure activities which are mainly concentrated on the West Pier. This segregation is desirable from both operational and health & safety points of view.
As is the case for all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, any decision with regard to initiating a project to provide additional berthing space in Howth will only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities
No final decisions have been made on the full suite of projects to be undertaken as part of the 2019 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, however I expect to make an announcement on this matter shortly.
