asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry regarding Howth Harbour Development: the total cost of the project; when it was approved by the Government; the funding provided by the EEC; when the development will be completed; the full cost of providing the marina and other facilities for Howth Yacht Club; the arrangements that have been made with Howth Yacht Club to recoup the full cost of providing these amenities.
Written Answers. - Howth (Dublin) Harbour Development.
366.
Howth harbour is State property and the Office of Public Works are the harbour authority.
The decision to proceed with harbour improvement work at Howth to be financed from the Fisheries Vote was made by the Government in January 1977. Initially the scheme related to dredging but it was subsequently extended to cover other improvments. The Office of Public Works estimate that the project will cost £12.1 million. The EEC approved a grant of £1.227 million from the European Regional Development Fund. The main contractor and his sub-contractors expect to finish their work by April 1984. The syncrolift should be ready early in 1985. Other works yet to be contracted for are estimated by the Office of Public Works to take up to 30 months for completion.
The marina was provided by Howth Yacht Club and I have no information as to its cost. Other facilities in the harbour provided for the yacht club during the course of the scheme are estimated to have cost £1.408 million. The principal element of this part of the work was the dredging of an area for yachts which was undertaken because the new central pier breakwater constructed in the fisheries interest caused the elimination of moorings which belonged to members of Howth Yacht Club.
Arrangement for the recoupment of the cost of providing amenities to Howth Yacht Club (including rents for the leasing of sites) is not a matter for my Department but one for the harbour authority.