John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Driscoll for that. When we launch this next week we will reiterate that and mention that there is agreement to engage with it. My experience in my constituency is that many people have approached me about processing shellfish and getting involved in seafood for export in the past six months in particular. Regarding the €400 million odd that the harbours are worth and the buildings being worth €30 million, the value of buildings is a bit more than that because they are the only buildings there. There is an essential need for them to be utilised properly. Given that in many cases they are vacant or there are legal issues surrounding them, the ports need a resolution of those issues. The Department is working very hard on this but in many cases these matters have gone on for way too long. That is the issue in that respect.

I will stick to issues related to Dunmore East. I thank Dr. Beamish and his section for the work they have done in moving forward the dredging issue during the past year. There have been issues with regard to tendering etc. I have a general question for Mr. Beamish regarding funding for infrastructure into the future. The need for that in Dunmore East is critical in two respects. It is a stepping-off point for access for the cruise ships and it is also a busy fishing port. There is not the space there for access for the cruise ships that are vital from an economic and tourism standpoint. It is becoming a potential safety issue and they are not getting any co-operation from the port company in Waterford. That is nothing new. Anyone in Waterford would tell us that. There is an issue there that needs to be examined and perhaps inquired into by the Department.

Another issue relates to a breakwater structure. That is the other essential piece of infrastructure that is missing from Dunmore East to allow for the leisure and the sailing end of activities to be built on and promoted. What ideas has the Department for securing infrastructure funding generally, and I ask that with a caveat? That caveat is that the proceeds for the sale of Aer Lingus have been tagged as going towards a regional connectivity fund. They have said that it is potentially going to ports and airports. Does that include State fishing ports to anyone's knowledge? Has that been discussed with the Department? Is there any suggestion that some of the funding from Aer Lingus might go to some of the fishery ports?