Vol. 384 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Marine if the report of the planning review group for Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin, has yet been received; if so, if it will be published; when a decision will be made on the future of the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17.
asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the Government's attitude to the report of the review group at Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; if the Government have accepted the report's findings in full; and if he will outline the way in which the development of a marina at Dún Laoghaire harbour will proceed from here.
39.
asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the number and the nature of development proposals and submissions made to the planning review group for Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; the reason for the extension of the time limit given to the review group; if the review group has made its report; the way in which the best marina facilities might be provided at Dún Laoghaire harbour; and if he will outline the findings of the review group and consider publishing them.
44.
asked the Minister for the Marine the reason for the Government decision to make available a marina site at the Office of Public Works moorings at the inner and outer Coal Harbour, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and the reason this was not put up for public tender prior to its allocation to a private company.
157.
asked the Minister for the Marine the present position in relation to the provision of a marina for Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
158.
asked the Minister for the Marine the present position in relation to the proposed Marina for Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
166.
asked the Minister for the Marine the nature and number of development proposals and submissions made to the planning review group for Dún Laoghaire harbour, County Dublin; if the review group has made its report; and if he will outline the findings of the review group.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17, 39, 44, 157, 158 and 166 together.
The Government are convinced that the potential for water sports and sailing and tourism development based on such activity has been badly neglected. They are of the view that the amenity of Dún Laoghaire should be enhanced, facilities for sports people improved, and the opportunity for employment in the area increased.
On 23 June 1988, the Minister announced the establishment of a planning review group for Dún Laoghaire. The task of the group was to ensure that the long term as well as the short term options for the development of the harbour were properly examined and planned. The report of the group was presented to the Minister by the Chairman, Professor Dermot McAleese on Friday last, 25 November. EC Council activities prevented the Minister from examining the report in detail. However, from a preliminary reading, it appears to be an excellent report and Professor McAleese is to be commended for it.
I understand that about 70 submissions were made to the group. These covered all aspects of harbour usage, development, and management, and considered such issues as the future of the ferry terminal in Dún Laoghaire, leisure facilities, such as marinas and sailing and developments involving the Carlisle Pier and the infill of the area west of the West Pier. Many of the submissions contained ideas for developments in the harbour. A number were from organisations who might be prepared to invest in developments in the harbour area. I consider it desirable that the report be published and I intend to have this done as soon as possible.
The report contains a number of suggestions concerning the development of marina facilities in the harbour. I do not think that individual sections of the report should be read in isolation but that it should be studied in its entirety. I hope the report can be adopted as a blueprint for the future development of the harbour and I will have it examined in detail over the next few weeks, with this in mind.
As regards the time to complete the report, Professor McAleese felt that the subject could not easily be broken into two parts as requested by the terms of reference. I am sure that when the report is examined it will be obvious that the additional time was well spent.
I am going to call first Deputy Geraldine Kennedy who has a number of questions tabled on this subject and who is present in the House.
Can the Minister of State tell us if the Government have accepted the report's findings in full, if the report comes down in favour of one marina proposal or another and how will the development of Dún Laoghaire harbour proceed from here?
The Government have decided that the report should be published. They have taken no decision apart from that. As Deputy Kennedy will appreciate, the report was only made available to the Minister on Friday last. I had only a glance of it. Other than that I do not want to pre-empt any decisions which might be taken.
Can the Minister of State tell us if the report finds in favour of one marina proposal or another and what now is the standing of the Cooney-Fitzpatrick marina proposals which were published earlier this year?
As I said, the report will be published as soon as possible. We will then have an opportunity to debate it. I do not want to pre-empt any decisions which might be taken. I have my own personal views on this matter. We had a meeting with the various public representatives of all parties in the Dún Laoghaire constituency and it would be wrong and irresponsible of me to comment further. The report will be made available in the Library as soon as possible.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply and his decision to publish the report. This is to be welcomed. I realise, of course, that the Minister of State could not have had an opportunity to study the report but can he tell us if he will consider two things — first, before any decisions are made to consult with all of the groups involved in the Dún Laoghaire area, and secondly, to consider the formation of a harbour authority in Dún Laoghaire.
As regards giving a commitment to consult with all groups I would not want to give such a commitment until I had read the report in its entirety. I think about 70 submissions were made to Professor McAleese and all of these will be taken into consideration. If I were to give such a commitment now, I feel it would have a knock on effect in that all those who made submissions as well as others would want a second opportunity. I certainly do not want to give such a commitment but I will look at it. As regards the formation of a harbour authority, this is a suggestion I will look at but it is one I have not had the opportunity to consider.
A final supplementary from Deputy Kennedy.
Can the Minister of State, to whom the contents of the report are known, tell us if he expects the development of a marina to be taking place in Dún Laoghaire within the next couple of months?
I would not be as familiar with Dún Laoghaire as would Deputy Kennedy and her colleagues. For me to respond favourably is precisely what the Deputy wants. I think the Deputy is anxious that there be a marina there and that it be developed but I would not like to put any timescale on it. We have waited patiently for Professor Mc-Aleese's report which I have had only a brief glance of, as I have already stated. It is an excellent report and all of us should refrain from further comment until we have had an opportunity of reading it in its entirety.
