Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Given that this matter was reviewed recently, I have no plans to again review my Department's management of the five national fishery harbour centres or the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968. In 2000, the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Fahey, set up a review group to examine the management structures and future potential of the fishery harbour centres. The review group presented its report in December 2001. It was decided at that stage to retain the management structure and operational model currently in place and I am satisfied this should remain the position.

The fishery harbour centres at Killybegs, Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere and Ros a Mhíl are managed by my Department. In addition, there is constant pressure from Dingle that it should also be taken over and operated directly by the Department in the same way as the other fishery harbour centres. The existing fishery harbour centres are managed with a view to promoting greater local input and initiative. Both I and my officials are constantly available for consultation with all the stakeholders, users and workers in the five harbours.

While there have been some limited local complaints over the administration and utilisation of the new Killybegs harbour, these must be balanced against the many positive and constructive comments and submissions received from local harbour users and interest groups. It is important that the management of the harbour and associated facilities is carried out in an even-handed manner and that competing interests are appropriately balanced. While some staffing issues have arisen in the harbour over the past year, I am satisfied the temporary arrangements in place have not compromised the management of the harbour. It is important that the question of harbour management is dissociated from the completely separate matter of fishery control in the harbour, which is a separate statutory function carried out by a different section of the Department. The recently completed €50 million development in Killybegs is the largest single investment in a fishery harbour centre and was funded under the national development plan and from the European Union Structural Fund.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

On foot of this investment I engaged the services of marketing consultants to market the new facilities and attract more vessels and diverse shipping activities to Killybegs. I recognise the importance of using and developing this facility to the optimum. With an effective marketing strategy we can ensure that the full potential of Killybegs is realised. The opportunity to attract new business for the facility is being fully explored from a number of perspectives, including local industry, offshore activities and tourism. A major focus of the marketing project involves wide-ranging consultation with existing and potential customers, local authorities and community and business groups.

The marketing project involved the establishment of a Department-led steering group, which has been charged with delivering on key objectives of the project. In summary, the group wants to maximise the potential of the port for throughput of general cargo, while maintaining Killybegs as Ireland's premier fishing harbour. It is focused on effective communications with stakeholders and interest groups and having a professional and transparent policy in that regard. I am confident that this investment will more than pay for itself in the coming years and will have enormously beneficial consequences for Donegal and beyond, both socially and economically.

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