Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1424. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when construction works on the middle pier upgrade at Howth Harbour will commence; the length of time the project will take to complete; the estimated cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36128/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.
Between the years 2010 to 2018, as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, in excess of €10 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC).
My Department is proposing to extend the Middle Pier Quay in Howth FHC to improve access, maintenance and berthing facilities. Additional berthing space would, in addition to relieving vessel congestion issues, enable greater segregation between the activities of fishing vessels and the marine tourism and leisure activities which are mainly concentrated on the West Pier. This segregation is desirable both from an operational and a health & safety point of view.
Tenders for the project issued on 27th June 2019 and the final date for receipt of submissions is 4th October 2019. The tender evaluation process period is expected to be completed by the end of November 2019.
The final cost of these extension works will only be determined following the public tender process, and it is envisaged that the works themselves could take up to 18 months to complete.
As is the case for all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, any decision with regard to initiating capital works projects can only be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding. Therefore, the decision in regard to this project will only be made when the budgetary position for 2020 becomes clearer.
