Brian O'Shea
Ceist:196 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to meet the concerns of fishery harbour centres users (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17886/03]
Written Answers. - Port Development.
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. The operation deficit for 2002 is made up as follows:
|
€ |
|
|
Killybegs |
256,745 |
|
Castletownbere |
23,736 |
|
Howth |
+6,314 |
|
Dunmore |
157,695 |
|
Rossaveel |
123,128 |
|
Total |
554,990 |
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 which expired on 10 June. I will carefully consider the more than 50 submissions received before making my decision.