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Harbours and Piers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Questions (940)

Richard Bruton

Question:

940. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Howth harbour project; and the progress that will be delivered in 2022. [7599/22]

View answer

Written answers

Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.

Funding is made available on an annual basis by the Department to the FHCs via the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. A phased programme for the infrastructural development of Howth FHC has progressed over the last number of years, having seen approximately €20m invested in capital developments between 2012 and 2021.

Furthermore, €6.025m has been allocated for capital works in the harbour this year. Further information on this year's Programme is available online at www.gov.ie/en/press-release/3030f-minister-mcconalogue-to-invest-35-million-during-2022-in-irelands-six-fishery-harbour-centres/.

The Middle Pier Berthing Face project is in the final phase of construction works and is expected to be substantially complete by Q2 2022, weather permitting. This project entails the construction of a 134 metre middle pier in the centre of the harbour.

Regarding future development works, my Department is progressing a project to undertake harbour dredging works to provide better water access to the fishing, leisure, and RNLI craft using the harbour. It is proposed to reuse the material to create an area for public realm on the west side of the West Pier. In that regard a planning application was lodged with Fingal County Council in July 2021, after my Department undertook a public consultation where comments and submissions were sought from the wider public, harbour users, tenants and businesses. A request for further information was received from the Council which my Department is currently working on responding to. The project will also require an EPA environmental permit for harbour dredging and reclamation works. Such permits can only be applied for with valid planning permission.

As is the case with all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, any future decision regarding development works in Howth FHC will only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities and must follow the necessary public procurement guidelines.

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