Vol. 531 No. 3
112 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if under the small harbour development programme, an allocation for additional money will be available for Clogherhead, County Louth in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5786/01]
The pier at Clogherhead is owned by Louth County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development lies with the local authority. Accordingly, it is a matter for the county council in the first instance to bring forward proposals for capital investment. Funding of £125,000 was provided last year to the county council to support essential safety and maintenance works.
In 1998 Louth County Council commissioned consulting engineers to carry out a technical assessment of the development needs of the harbour. Their report, which examined a range of options, recommended extending the pier, the construction of a breakwater and dredging works. The cost of these capital works was estimated at that time to be in excess of £3 million.
Any major capital investment proposed would require, in the first instance, comprehensive cost benefit analysis having regard to all relevant economic and socio-economic factors, trends in volume and value of landings, the extent to which displacement is a factor, fleet trends and regional and local considerations. It is also the case that existing funding for major fishery harbour development work is oversubscribed. Development options in relation to Clogherhead will be kept under review in that context, and my Department will be consulting further with Louth County Council on the way forward.
