Mervyn Taylor
Ceist:15 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for the Marine when a decision will be made to establish a permanent harbour board for Dún Laoghaire which will oversee the development of Dún Laoghaire and the marina-related facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Development.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Ceist:26 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he intends acting on the recommendations of the interim report on Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authority; and whether he intends to establish a statutory harbour authority to monitor (1) the implementation of the recommendations of the report and (2) all future development of the harbour.
I intend to take Questions Nos. 15 and 26 together.
I established the Interim Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board in January 1990 to assist in all aspects of harbour management and development until such time as the harbour authority are established on a statutory basis. I took this immediate action in response to calls for the establishment of such an authority.
It is generally accepted that the work undertaken by my Department since taking over responsibility for the harbour has contributed to the ongoing improvement of the facilities there and the efforts of the harbour management are to be commended.
The interim board have prepared a draft development plan for the harbour the details of which are on public exhibition at present. I would like to congratulate the board for their work in preparing such a comprehensive plan for the development of all aspects of the harbour. All interested parties are invited to express their views on the content of the draft plan. These views will be taken into account before the board make final recommendations on the nature of development to be undertaken at the harbour.
Following receipt of the board's final recommendations I will consider more permanent arrangements for the operation and development of the harbour, including the question of appropriate legislative changes.
Would the Minister accept that there has been an extraordinary delay in establishing a proper Dún Laoghaire harbour authority? We were given a promise in the House almost two years ago that a statutory harbour authority would be established. What we have got instead is an interim board. While I accept that a draft development plan has been drawn up and interested parties will have an opportunity to make their views known why is it that both the Minister and his Department are so anxious to retain control of the harbour and why are they so slow in coming to the House with legislation to establish a harbour authority for Dún Laoghaire?
Neither I nor my Department are anxious to retain control. Our pure and only purpose is to see to it that the harbour in Dún Laoghaire is properly developed. The interim board consist of a wide range of people with varied expertise. They did a magnificent job — I could not praise them enough — in drawing up a plan which the Deputy may see on display in Dún Laoghaire, if she goes to Deputy Gilmore's constituency——
I will escort her.
I have no doubt that the Deputy would welcome her. The interim board have now presented their report with their plan. There are differing views on whether an ordinary harbour board or a developmental board, who would have more powers than the traditional stereotyped harbour board, might be more suitable for Dún Laoghaire. As the Deputy is aware, the chief source of income at Dún Laoghaire is the Sealink ferry and it is envisaged, with the maximum participation of the citizenry, that Sealink will remain there, as a source of funding, and that the amenities of the harbour will be fully developed around it.
Would the Minister confirm that the final decision as to what should happen at Dún Laoghaire will be taken by him rather than by the interim harbour board? Second, can he give us any indication as to when decisions will be made in the light of the fact that the report has now been presented by the interim harbour board? Third, since he mentioned the question of the car ferry and since one of the principal proposals in the report relates to improvements to the car ferry terminal, can the Minister give us any indication of the funding arrangements he has in mind? For example, does he intend to adjust the existing Structural Funds available or seek additional funds to allow the project proceed?
Of course, the decision will be taken by me and my Department. It would be a very futile exercise to set up an interim harbour board with the degree of expertise that they have and not pay careful attention to their recommendations. With regard to the development funds, CIE and Stena Sealink have expressed an interest in investing there. Third, while the first phase of the programme for peripheral development will not cover Dún Laoghaire harbour it is my intention that an application will be made for funds for the development of Dún Laoghaire harbour in the second phase.
Is it the Minister's view that Dún Laoghaire should be the premier passenger port in Dublin Bay and, second, in relation to the establishment of an authority for Dún Laoghaire port is the Minister aware that there is a proposal to invest £23 million in developing the port while the Dublin Port and Docks Board also propose to develop their port? Has the Minister considered establishing a Dublin Bay authority to allow freight services to be developed at Dublin port and Dún Laoghaire to become the premier passenger port?
I am not in the business of declaring which is the premier passenger port. The Deputy is aware that there is considerable controversy about the development of Dún Laoghaire vis-à-vis development at Dublin port. There is no necessity for a Dublin Bay authority. My Department will be able to monitor it in such a way that there will be no unnecessary development or duplication in the region.
A final question from Deputy Gilmore.
To follow up the Minister's comments in relation to the peripherality programme may I take it that no significant improvements to the passenger facilities at Dún Laoghaire are envisaged before 1993?
No, the Deputy may not take that from what I said but developments with the aid of peripherality funds will have to wait until that time.
That amounts to the same thing.
That does not mean there will be no development before then.