Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney. I wish Deputy Griffin the best in his new portfolio and I hope that he will find something to work on in the following statement.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to deal with the issues raised by the Deputy concerning the difficulties being experienced by fishermen in west Kerry due to harbour charges at the Dingle fishery harbour centre. At the outset, I wish to outline the position with regard to my Department's responsibilities in relation to Dingle fishery harbour centre. The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968, as amended, provided the legal framework for the establishment of the six fishery harbour centres, which are located at Killybegs, Rossaveal, An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. The Act was designed to facilitate the promotion and development of sea fishing together with the processing, packaging and selling of fish.

Dingle fishery harbour centre has been the most recent addition to the fishery harbour centres covered under the 1968 Act, as amended. Prior to its designation as a fishery harbour centre, it had been under the control of the Dingle Harbour Commissioners. The harbour commissioners formally sought the designation of the harbour as a fishery harbour centre. In 2007, Mr. Noel Dempsey, the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, issued the Fishery Harbour Centre (An Daingean) Order 2007, which effectively gave fishery harbour centre status to Dingle, as set out in the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968, as amended.

With regard to the fishery harbour centres generally, I am happy to say that my Department has in recent, and not so recent, years invested substantially in the upgrade and development of the facilities available to the fishing fleet at the fishery harbour centres, as we strive to bring the standard of facilities available up to a level comparable with the best available anywhere. This investment continues and I can confirm that in excess of €10 million has been allocated to the fishery harbours and coastal infrastructure development capital programme for 2011.

The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 sets out clearly the mechanism to be employed in funding the day-to-day operational costs of the fishery harbour centres. All income received at each of the six fishery harbour centres is effectively lodged to what is known as the fishery harbour centres fund. That fund is, in fact, the only source of income available to fund the day-to-day operational and management costs at each of the fishery harbour centres.

Examples of regular expenditure that come to mind include harbour master and staff wages, electricity and fuel costs, cleaning and maintenance, etc. All income lodged to the fishery harbour centres fund is invested directly back into the fishery harbour centres.

The main source of income at each of the fishery harbour centres is from all users of harbour facilities, including fishermen availing of the facilities provided. The charges levied on fishermen who use any of the six the fishery harbour centres are set out in the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates and Charges) Order 2003. These charges are consistent from harbour to harbour and all income received is invested directly back in the fishery harbour centres through the fishery harbour centres fund.

The rates and charges order was published in 2003 and while I am cognisant of the current economic situation, I must also point out that there has been no increase in the charges levied since 2003. I can confirm, however, that my Department is currently engaged in a review of the rates and charges order and is working to balance the economic conditions faced by fishermen with the need to continue with the provision of all necessary services at the fishery harbour centres.

On finalisation of the draft revised rates and charges order, my Department will arrange for its publication. In addition, a public consultation process will afford all stakeholders the opportunity to comment on, and provide an input to, the proposed revised charges. My Department will welcome any submissions and observations from fishermen in west Kerry and, indeed, all fishermen and harbour users.

On a more general note, my Department facilitates a regular harbour users forum at Dingle fishery harbour centre. This forum is well attended and provides for representation of all the various harbour users, including fishermen. My Department welcomes all comments and suggestions in relation to the management and development of the harbour at the forum.

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