Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 9

Adjournment Debate. - Marine Matter.

Mr. McGinley

I should like to thank the Chair for affording me this opportunity. It is more than a year since a deputation from Burtonport met the Minister for the Marine when the planned development of Burtonport Harbour was discussed. There are two dimensions to the development, namely dredging and an extension to the pier. Of the two, the most important is the dredging. The position has reached a critical point. Only small vessels and craft can gain access to the harbour. Many local fishermen can no longer operate out of their home port and they have to travel to Killybegs and elsewhere.

The mackerel and herring processing industry in Burtonport is being slowly strangled due to the fact that fish have to be transported by lorry to the processing locations at Burtonport.

In the recent past Burtonport Harbour was used by the Gweedore Industrial Estate to import raw material such as steel from Europe. That tradition has been discontinued due to inaccessibility by sea.

Burtonport also serves as a port of departure for the biggest island off the Donegal coast — Arranmore. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the island ferry boat Misneach to provide and maintain the excellent standard of service to which we have become accustomed.

The dredging aspect of the development was given the green light in 1986 and was to commence in 1987. Due to economic and financial constraints this has been postponed every year since then and today the situation has reached crisis proportions. Further development of the fishing and processing industry in this part of the Donegal Gaeltacht will be impossible unless immediate dredging of the harbour is carried out. Existing jobs could be in jeopardy.

At the meeting with the Minister in November 1990 we all understood that work would commence not later than 1992. I am requesting the Minister of State to convey my request to the Minister for the Marine, who is in Brussels negotiating on behalf of fishermen, to stand by the undertaking given at that meeting. Work should at least commence on the dredging in 1992.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick West): The Fishery Harbours Development Programme sets out my Department's priorities to the end of 1993. The programme provides for substantial investment in the development of the fishery harbour centres which are owned by my Department and of other strategically located fishing ports around the country which are the responsibility of the relevant local authorities. The Deputy will be aware of some of the important projects which have been advanced under the programme in County Donegal. I am referring in particular to the works completed at Cladnageeragh and the ongoing works at Greencastle, each of which is of considerable benefit to local fishermen and, by extension, the local economy.

The position with regard to Burtonport is that in the first instance the harbour is the responsibility of Donegal County Council. The Fishery Harbours Development Programme makes provision for the dredging of the approach channel at an estimated cost of £1 million. This work when completed will allow Burtonport to handle the larger vessels which are increasingly becoming a feature of the fishing fleet. The project will attract grant aid from my Department to the tune of 75 per cent, the balance will fall to be paid by Donegal County Council. There is no provision in the programme for extending the pier nor do my Department have any plans to do so at present.

In reply to a parliamentary question from the Deputy on 6 November last, the Minister set out the up to date position regarding the Burtonport project. He said:

The position with regard to the dredging work proposed for Burtonport is that a hydrographic survey has been undertaken to determine the bed level and a probing survey has been recently completed to establish the extent of the rock which is present. The results of these investigations are currently being evaluated. Work on the actual dredging will proceed as resources permit.

The situation has not changed materially in the interim.

A programme of harbour works for 1992 is being finalised by my Department at the moment. The programme must take account of the level of ongoing works; the priority attaching to the many investment proposals being considered; and, most importantly, the amount of funding available for fishery harbour developments in 1992. With regard to this latter criterion, the Deputy will be aware that the Government have allocated £3.5 million for the development of fishery harbours in 1992 — testimony to our commitment to the development of the infrastructure on which the fishing industry is based. Pending the finalisation of the programme for 1992, I am unable to say when the dredging at Burtonport will commence. The Deputy can, however, be assured of my commitment to seeing that this worthy project is advanced as quickly as possible.

The Dáil adjourned at 11.5 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 19 December 1991.