Vol. 568 No. 2
105 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason increases of up to 600% are being imposed from 1 July 2003 on fishermen whose boats use the facilities in the fishery harbour centres at Castletownbere, Killybegs, Rossaveale, Dunmore East and Howth. [15852/03]
Charges at fishery harbour centres were last increased in 1990 and are clearly in need of upward revision. The 2002 draft accounts for the fishery harbour centres fund show an operating deficit of €544,990 and an aggregate deficit of €1.2 million. Without a significant increase in income the deficit will increase rapidly as staff and other operating costs increase. The Exchequer meets the capital costs of developing the harbours through the national fishery harbour development programme and is providing €28 million in 2003 for those purposes. Proposed new charges at fishery harbour centres were published on 21 May 2003, with the statutory consultation period of 21 days provided for until midnight last night, 10 June 2003. I need time to consider carefully the outcome of that consultation before making my decision and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
