asked the Minister for Finance the extent of siltage at Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; and if he will give details of the plans for dredging the harbour.
360.
Written Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
359.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of harbour constables; and the total number of staff employed by the State at Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin.
361.
asked the Minister for Finance the cost to date of building, maintaining and repairing the ferry pier at St. Michael's Wharf, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; the contractors; the plans to repair the structural damage to the pier; and the future for which it is intended.
362.
asked the Minister for Finance the plans for the old mail boat pier at Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin.
363.
asked the Minister for Finance the purpose for which, and by whom, part of Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin, immediately to the west of the National Yacht Club, is being filled in.
364.
asked the Minister for Finance the purpose for which a boatyard compound is being built on State property beside the motor yacht club at Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; from which State body, and under what terms authorisation was given for this development.
365.
asked the Minister for Finance the capital expenditure by the State on Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin for each year since 1964.
366.
asked the Minister for Finance the amounts paid to the State, in rents and other charges, by the following users of Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin: (1) the Commissioners of Irish Lights, (2) Sealink, (3) the Royal St. George Yacht Club, (4) the National Yacht Club, (5) the Motor Yacht Club and (6) the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
367.
asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the Exchequer, including staff remuneration, in respect of the upkeep of Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin for 1982.
368.
asked the Minister for Finance the payments to the State, and their source, which were made in 1982 by users of Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 359 to 368, inclusive, together.
It is the practice not to divulge information regarding commercial transactions with individual private parties but I can state that it is the policy of the Commissioners of Public Works to recover the full cost of the services provided for commercial interests in the harbour. Subject to the constraint affecting commercial transactions, the information sought by the Deputy is as follows:
Any problems of siltage at Dún Laoghaire harbour are kept under review by way of periodic hydrographic surveys and dredging operations are carried out as and when required. Current dredging requirements, if any, will be determined on the basis of the information provided by the survey at present being conducted.
There are 26 harbour constables, 84 industrial employees and 11 civil servants employed by the State at Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
The car ferry pier and terminal at St. Michael's Wharf was built on foot of a contract with Irishenco Ltd. at a cost of some £1.15 millions. Vote accounting arrangements do not provide for the allocation of separate maintenance and repair costs to specific areas within the harbour and it is not possible, therefore, to give a figure in respect of such costs for the car ferry pier. Maintenance and repair works are normally undertaken by the labour force employed by the Commissioners of Public Works at the harbour but the services of outside contractors are engaged as and when required. Tenders have been invited for the repair of that part of the pier structure which was damaged by a vessel; a significant amount of underwater repair work has already been carried out to the piling to the pier and the nature and extent of the further repairs which are required will be determined by underwater surveys. The future use of the pier is under consideration by the Commissioners of Public Works in consultation with the appropriate interested authorities.
The old mail boat pier is being used for the cross-channel ferry service to Holyhead and plans for future use of this pier will be determined in conjunction with the taking account of the deliberations in regard to the future of the car ferry pier.
With the consent of the Commissioners of Public Works, the area to the west of the National Yacht Club premises, which forms part of the club's leasehold property, is being filled in by the club authorities with the purpose of providing accommodation for dinghy parking.
A dinghy park is being constructed adjacent to the Motor Yacht Club's premises on the west pier. The principal terms of the lease to the club in respect of the area involved have been sanctioned by my Department and the details have been agreed between the club authorities and the Commissioners of Public Works.
Details of capital expenditure by the State on the harbour for the years in question are as follows: 1963-64, £19,581; 1964-65, £73,890; 1965-66, £206,730; 1966-67, £213,942; 1967-68, £239,237; 1968-69, £294,397; 1969-70, £94,388; 1970-71, £21,064; 1971-72, £Nil; 1972-73, £3,821; 1973-74, £1,306; 1974 (9 months), £158,487; 1975, £174,661; 1976, £63,476; 1977 to 1982, Nil.
The amount expended in the year ended 31 December 1982 in respect of the upkeep of the harbour, inclusive of staff remuneration, was £1,200,000 approximately; receipts for that year amounted to some £950,000.