Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Written Answers. - Fishery Harbour Centres.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

29 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the status of his proposal for local fishery harbour management boards; and when legislation will be introduced following submissions received by his Department before 30 September 1998. [15966/99]

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

The five fishery harbour centres are currently managed and operated by my Department, under the Fishery Harbour Centres Acts. It is generally agreed, however, that this arrangement is unduly centralised and lacks the commercial and operational flexibility required to respond effectively to local circumstances and needs.

I have announced that I intend to develop a new management structure for the five existing fishery harbour centres, and that Dingle will be incorporated in the new arrangements. The intention is to remove the day to day management of the centres from the Department in line with the principle of subsidiarity. I am anxious to promote local involvement and initiative in development strategies, and to facilitate a more commercial approach to delivering services to the fishing industry at local level.

The new management structure will be predicated on local involvement through boards which will have an input into all issues affecting maintenance and development of the harbour centres. Appropriate levels of co-ordination between the centres will be necessary also to ensure an overall consistent national approach to fishery harbour infrastructure needs.

Interested parties were invited last year to submit their views on the most appropriate new management arrangements for the fishery harbour centres. My Department is now drawing up proposed new arrangements for my consideration. I have asked the Department to finalise these as a priority and it is my intention to put proposals to Government for the necessary legislative and administrative change as soon as possible.