Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Transport. Responsibility for Tralee and Fenit harbour and for 12 other regional harbours operating under the Harbours Act 1946 transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the Department of Transport with effect from 1 January 2006. The Tralee and Fenit Harbour Commissioners are responsible for the control, operation and management of the harbour.

The Government's ports policy statement, which was launched in January 2005, states that the continued operation of the regional harbours, operating under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946, is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance. The policy statement reiterated the view that most of these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to local authority ownership or where this is not possible, through sale to the private sector. In harbours where significant commercial traffic exists, such as in Tralee and Fenit harbour, consideration will be given to bringing such harbours under the control of a port company.

My colleague's Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to advance the implementation of the ports policy statement with regard to the transfer of the designated regional harbours to their respective local authorities, where appropriate, and to proceed individually in conjunction with the relevant local authorities and harbour authorities, having regard to local requirements in each case.

Funding of €600,000 was provided in 2004 to Tralee and Fenit harbour for repairs to the viaduct and the widening of the pier. The harbour commissioners were made aware in correspondence at that time that there was no commitment to provide further Exchequer funding for additional works and that they would have to make arrangements to provide funding for additional works from their own resources.

The limited resources available in the Department of Transport for expenditure on regional harbours are being concentrated on essential safety and remedial works, pending the transfer of the harbours to local authority or port company control.

The commissioners have recently sought additional funding for remedial works at their harbour, which Deputy Deenihan mentioned. Their funding proposals and those from the other regional harbours will be considered over the coming months in the context of the necessity to prioritise the limited available budget towards essential safety and remedial works.

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