Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 31 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 3

Written Answers. - Harbours and Piers.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

24 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when funding will be approved for the development plan submitted by Baltimore Harbour Board and Port Users Association for the development of Baltimore pier and harbour. [7979/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I met representatives of Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Commissioners on 10 February 1998 to discuss their proposals for the development of the harbour.

At that meeting the group presented me with "a proposed development plan for Baltimore Harbour, preliminary report prepared for Cork County Council by D. J. Fitzgibbon and Associates". This study, which my Department had agreed to co-fund with Cork County Council, examined a previous feasibility study carried out by the Nautical Enterprise Centre which was also funded by my Department. The report outlines development options at a cost of over £3 million.

The revenues generated by port users of some £8,000 per annum would not be sufficient to sustain a development of the extent proposed in the development plan submitted by the Harbours Commissioners.

I indicated at the meeting that the relevant administrative and technical services of the Department would examine the report in the context of other ongoing studies and revert to the Harbour Commissioners in due course.

In the context of other studies relevant to consideration of these proposals, the Deputy may be aware that in October 1997 my Department appointed consultants to undertake a national EU funded seaport capacity study incorporating a comprehensive physical inventory of existing seaport capacity at all seaports, including Baltimore Harbour. The study findings will inform policy decisions on the development and maintenance of adequate infrastructural capacity at strategic Irish ports to cope with increasing volumes of tourism and trade and underpin future development plans to deliver that capacity. The report of the consultants is expected to be completed by end April 1998.

The Government has committed in the Action Programme for the Millennium and in Partnership 2000 to review the strategic options for the future development and management of ports whose commercial activity has declined and to transferring small harbours to local control to develop marine leisure activities. the proposed development plan will also be considered in that context.