Hugh Byrne
Ceist:26 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has for the development of a marina at Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. [2144/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Development.
Seán Power
Ceist:27 Mr. Power asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has for the replacement of the Carlisle Pier. [2143/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
The Minister and I have asked the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board to place their proposals for the development of a marina and the installation of facilities for sail training and other harbour leisure users on public display. All interested parties — harbour users and local residents alike — will be invited to view an exhibition of proposals for development, to be mounted in March, and to comment by making submissions to the board.
Developers will also be invited to look at the proposals and identify ways in which they might participate in the advancement of plans.
All opportunities for increasing the availability of moorings and making better use of the water space in the harbour will be examined. The exhibition will display marina possibilities and address how its installation can be advanced. Significant support for the initiative is expected from the Dún Laoghaire combined clubs.
No proposals exist yet for the development of the Carlisle Pier on its decommissioning from ferry operations. The proposals to be put on display will, however, be seen to be complementary to the future development of the Carlisle Pier. This is an important continuation of the public consultation process undertaken by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board when drafting the Development Plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
For any development project to succeed in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, it must be advanced with the agreement of harbour users and the local community. This exhibition will allow all interested parties an opportunity at an early stage to have an input into the way in which a marina and other recreational and leisure facilities are to develop in Dún Laoghaire Harbour in the future.
As the efforts to provide this necessary infrastructure in Dún Laoghaire have not succeeded up to now, is the Minister of State optimistic about the likelihood of a successful outcome?
The essential difference is that the approach being taken is to put the proposals for development and various ideas and options on public display, to involve all the harbour users in a process of consultation about the proposals as well as involving the local community in the process of consultation about them. I am confident that following that process of consultation, it will be possible to proceed with the planned leisure, recreational development for the totality of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.