Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will give the Deputy an idea of the approved funding and expenditure in 2014. We approved the design and planning of pontoons between the middle and west piers at a cost of €100,000, almost €60,000 of which has been spent. There was an assignment of €80,000 for a syncrolift platform for painting and repairs, of which €45,000 has been spent. A sum of €20,000 was approved for the upgrade of navigational lights and markers but more than that has been spent. A sum of €150,000 was approved for east pier repairs, of which €111,000 has been spent. A sum of €500,000 was allocated to upgrade the electrical system which was causing major problems for businesses and harbour users and most of that money has been spent. A sum of €20,000 has been spent to provide disability access while €310,000 was allocated for safety and maintenance, most of which has been spent. In total €1.18 million was allocated and more than €1 million has been spent.

There is no lack of commitment to the harbour in the Department but we share the facility with other users. Howth has extraordinary potential as a leisure harbour as well as a fisheries harbour. I know Howth Yacht Club very well and have been there many times. There is significant potential for leisure, tourism and passenger ferries perhaps on a small scale to take people around Dublin Bay. There was a project proposal to connect Dún Laoghaire with Howth last year and we spoke to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport about putting a kiosk in place in Howth to facilitate that. We will continue to work with our partners to try to build broad commercial activity in the harbour but we must also maintain a functioning fishing harbour in the context of developing those other activities.

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