Phil Hogan
Ceist:38 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will sanction the urgent repairs required to keep the pier at Helvick, County Waterford, intact; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Helvic (Waterford) Pier Repairs.
Helvic harbour is owned by Waterford County Council who is responsible for its maintenance and repair. The Department of the Marine did provide grant-aid to Waterford County Council in respect of emergency structural renewals undertaken at this harbour in 1992.
Under the National Development Plan a sum of £12 million is being made available for the development and improvement of facilities at fishery harbours. In order to optimise the benefits of harbour investment projects, the Department of the Marine is formulating a Fishery Harbours Development Plan for the period 1994 through 1999. All coastal local authorities were invited to submit development proposals to the Department for consideration and possible inclusion in the Fishery Harbours Development Plan. In view of the fact that the total cost of the various development proposals submitted to the Department far exceeds the money available, only those projects considered most strategically or economically beneficial will be included in the finalised plan.
The Department of the Marine is examining all proposals submitted, including proposals for the development of Helvick harbour, in order to assess their suitability for inclusion in the plan. Until this examination is completed and agreement is reached with the Commission of the European Communities on an operational programme to enable structural funding to be drawn down to subvent the plans implementation, I am not in a position to say what works, if any, may be undertaken at Helvic harbour.