Vol. 400 No. 2
57 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine the reason for the delay in giving sanction for the replacement of the pier at Clogher Head, County Louth; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Irish Fishermen's Organisation were advised that the work would commence this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Clogher Head is a fishery harbour identified by my Department as a priority for development. Indeed I am hopeful that development work on the harbour will commence before the end of 1991. Development plans will be drawn up following completion of the comprehensive model testing programme which my Department commissioned the research laboratory of University College Cork to undertake.
58 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by the Irish Fishermen's Organisation regarding the disrepair and neglect of many fishery harbours; if he has any plans for the improvement of these harbours, especially those under the direct control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is responsible for the control of the five fishery harbour centres and these are being maintained to a satisfactory standard. The maintenance and control of other fishery harbours is a matter for the relevant local authorities.
My Department's fishery harbour programme provides for major investment in the development of infrastructure in the period 1990 to 1993. This investment will be used for projects at the fishery harbour centres and at other harbours to ensure that they will be capable of supporting a modern seagoing fishing fleet and all related downstream activities located in their vicinity.
