asked the Minister for the Marine, in view of the serious subsidence of part of the East Pier at Howth Harbour, County Dublin, if he will have the pier inspected with a view to having repairs carried out and proper road surfacing provided, in order that same would be rendered safe; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Howth Harbour Pier.
13.
On-going engineering inspections reveal that there is no subsidence at the East Pier in Howth Harbour. The surface of a portion of the East Pier is quite rough in places. This matter is currently being dealt with by officials of my Department.
Contract documents are in preparation to invite tenders for resurfacing that part of the East Pier adjoining the marina breakwater and the work should commence early next year.
Is the Minister aware that the East Pier is in a very dangerous condition because of lack of proper road surfacing? Is the Minister also aware that a large number of people use this pier for walking exercises when, particularly on Sundays, it is as busy as Dún Laoghaire pier? Should an accident take place at this pier in the interim would the Minister say whether his Department have sufficient insurance cover?
I want to assure the Deputy that my departmental engineer has inspected the East Pier at Howth Harbour on a number of occasions, the most recent being 16 November. Approximately 160 meters of the surfacing on the East Pier adjoining the marina breakwater, was damaged by the contractor's machinery during the construction of the breakwater. It was subsequently repaired by the contractor in 1984 and restored to its 1980-1981 condition. The old concrete surface has now got rough and cracked. There are some holes in places because it was laid initially over the stone flags. During easterly winds and high seas the waves break over the upper deck of the pier and the action of the sea water is eroding the joints between the old concrete and the repaired areas. This gives it the patchy appearance the Deputy knows about. The engineer reported to me within the past week that there is no subsidence of the surface which cannot then be regarded as hazardous to pedestrians.
With regard to the Deputy's additional supplementary about insurance cover, I am not aware what is the exact position with regard to insurance. But I am quite sure that, when my Department take over the pier, it will be adequately covered by insurance.
I join Deputy Cosgrave in welcoming the decision taken to have the surface repaired because this is a very important amenity which should have been examined long before now. Would the Minister inquire into the contribution that motor traffic on the East Pier makes to its further deterioration? Would he ensure that commercial traffic only — related to fishing and the use of the pier for that purpose — is allowed because I am aware there have been many complaints by pedestrians using that pier at weekends to the effect that there is other motor traffic using it thereby endangering them?
Can the Minister indicate when it is likely that his Department will be taking charge of the East Pier considering this was first promised in October 1988?
I want to tell the Deputy about the East Pier which is a matter of concern to him. Contract documents are in preparation to invite tenders for its resurfacing, that is the resurfacing of the part I have mentioned already, the part of the East Pier adjoining the marina breakwater.
What about restricting traffic on it?
I have no plans to restrict traffic on it at present but I will bear in mind what the Deputy has said and will have the matter examined to ascertain whether that traffic element is significant. From the substance of my reply to the supplementary already it would seem that it was not ordinary leisure traffic that did the damage but rather fairly heavy contractors' traffic. When work gets going on the resurfacing early in 1990 we will be able to examine the Deputy's suggestion.
When is the harbour being taken over?
Very soon.
Will there be a harbour authority?
No. There is a question on that matter later.