Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated fishery harbour centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute. I am happy to advise the Deputy that between the years 2011 and 2016, as part of my Department's fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, in excess of €6.7 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, notwithstanding the challenging economic environment in which we operate. I will shortly be announcing further support under the 2017 capital programme.
With regard to the possibility of a dredging project in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, I advise the Deputy that the report from a site investigation works, which was commissioned in 2015, was received by my Department in March 2016. The report included vital information on the nature of the material to be dredged in any future dredging project. The information revealed from the site investigation report indicated that certain of the dredge material would not be suitable for conventional disposal at sea.
In June 2016, a firm of consulting engineers was engaged to prepare a report on a potential dredging project at Howth to include the possible scope of the project, various disposal options for the dredged material at Howth and permitting requirements. This report is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2017. A draft preliminary report indicating initial dredge quantities and cost estimates is expected by end February 2017. Depending on the outcome of this process, and as is the case for all developments in the six fishery harbour centres, any possible future dredging project at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under future capital programmes on the basis of available Exchequer funding and competing priorities.
