Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)

I wish to raise an issue relating to Howth Harbour. Howth has been a harbour and fishing village since the Middle Ages. Boats are experiencing an issue with the harbour's depth. It has not been dredged since the 1970s. That is almost half a century ago. Boats, especially the larger boats, which have a clearance of 5 m or less have a much narrower window to get in and out of the harbour than they used to have because of the silting up of the harbour. Dredging is due to be carried out. There is a programme to build a public park on one side of the harbour and use the dredging materials to build up the soil levels to do that. Unfortunately, the planning permission has been granted, but we are waiting on a consent to issue from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. It has been with the agency for some time. This issue came to a head a number of weeks ago when a vessel was stuck in the harbour for a couple of hours at low tide. Dredging is required urgently.

Howth has become a hot spot for tourism. The area is a contributor for both the economy of Dublin and the country overall. Each year tourists and people from across the country travel to Howth to celebrate Howth, Ireland's maritime heritage, our seafood and Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival. In the current global environment, it is essential that we have food security, and our fishermen contribute greatly to that reliable source of food. This is an important project. Dredging will greatly benefit all who use the harbour and assist in the continuance of the tradition of Howth as a fishing village. I ask the Minister of State to impress on his colleague Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to impress upon the EPA to move this consent process along if possible.

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