David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and thank him for taking this Adjournment matter. I have tabled a number of matters on this issue in recent years and it is important to get an update from the Department on the current position. The Minister of State will know there is a need to dredge the harbour at Dunmore East. It is accepted this needs to happen because the lack of dredging restricts the ability of ships to berth at Dunmore East, which causes problems. The Department has recognised the need, which is important. Many vessels can only land at the harbour at high tide due to the build-up of silt, which restricts the type of vessels that can land. Given that Dunmore East is a fishing village and a harbour that needs a turnover of vessels, I believe the Minister of State will accept this is a situation that would cause concern. It is also the case that a number of the larger vessels are unable to berth at low tide, so they are stuck off the harbour for a couple of hours, waiting for the tide to rise before they can come. This causes concern for a number of different reasons, including increased costs. In addition, if there was a medical emergency, the boats need to get in and anything that delays them and keeps them out at sea for hours on end is not good. I also understand that, at times, there is a difficulty with the lifeboat being able to get out of the harbour at low tide, which is a further concern.

It is important that the Minister of State sets out the Government's priority. I know the Department has invested in the harbour over the past number of years, which is welcome.

The last time I raised the issue, the Department said it had commissioned a report to examine the cost involved. As there is tributyltin in the sediment, there will be an increased cost in disposing of dredged material, and I accept that its disposal will incur a cost. On the last occasion on which I met the Minister he confirmed that the engineering division of his Department had engaged consultants to examine and report on a number of alternative options in terms of the structuring of the works and the outlay involved. I wonder if the Minister of State is in a position to update us on the matter. Also, I ask him to clarify what the Governments intends to do for the area.