David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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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.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Cullinane for giving me an opportunity to clarify the Department's position on the harbour.

The harbour at Dunmore East is one of the six designated fishery harbour centres that are owned by the State and managed and maintained by my Department. Their primary purpose is to provide facilities and services for the fishing industry and fisheries-related activities. Capital funding is made available on an annual basis by my Department to the fishery harbour centres, including Dunmore East, via the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure capital development programme.

I am happy to advise that my Department has over the years continued to support the development of Dunmore East fishery harbour centre and provided significant funding for maintenance, development and upgrading works each year. Approximately €4 million in capital expenditure under the programme has been invested in Dunmore East Harbour from 2007 to 2012. In 2013, €827,000 was approved under the programme. The expenditure is in recognition of the valuable contribution the harbour makes not only to the fishing industry but also to the local community, through the support the harbour infrastructure provides to the development of the tourism industry and the local economy generally.

Dunmore East fishery harbour centre provides a dedicated and essential service to our fishing fleet. Both local and visiting fishing vessels, including vessels of significant dimensions, are currently availing of the harbour facilities at Dunmore East. However, larger vessels have difficulties accessing the harbour when laden with fish. Due to the accumulation of silt in the harbour there are only two suitable berths that have sufficient depth to cater for them when unloading.

From a general perspective, investment in Dunmore East fishery harbour centre in recent years is bearing fruit and the data provided to me by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority indicates a year-on-year increase in fish landings in recent years.

The need for dredging works at the harbour has been recognised by my Department. It is acknowledged that further commercial development of the harbour, particularly to attract increased landings from fishing vessels, is and will remain restricted until the present situation with accumulated silt is resolved. The silting of the harbour has occurred gradually over time. Reports commissioned indicate that 80% of the harbour sediment contains TBT. Unfortunately, the costs associated with the disposal of dredge spoil containing TBT is significantly higher than for uncontaminated material. The most recent estimates for dredging the harbour and disposing of the dredge spoil material in an appropriate manner are estimated to be in the region of €4 million, subject to a tendering process. This represents a significant expenditure in the current economic environment. Any decisions on progressing works will be taken in the context of available Exchequer funding and other national priorities.

My Department has engaged consultants to examine and report on a number of alternative options in terms of the structuring of the necessary works and the potential expenditures involved. On 13 March 2013 the consultants provided the Department with their report. My officials have examined the report in detail to determine the most appropriate approaches to the project. Final decisions will be taken in light of the capital budget for 2014 and having consideration of the best strategic use of those funds nationally.

In the meantime, my Department will continue to invest in the Dunmore East fishery harbour centre facilities. More than €800,000 was allocated under the 2013 capital programme, a large proportion of which was spent on the much-needed slipway extension and widening that is now substantially complete. The project is an indication of the importance the Government places on developing Dunmore East fishery harbour centre. When the project has been completed, harbour users will have a fit-for-purpose facility that is required to provide for the increased level of fishing and leisure activities in the harbour.

I am cognisant of the need to be kept fully aware of the requirements of harbour users at Dunmore East fishery harbour centre on an ongoing basis. My Department's officials regularly host a harbour users' forum and meet local stakeholders and harbour users. The forum provides a platform for harbour users to air their views. It gives my officials an opportunity to hear at first hand the concerns and suggestions of people using the harbour facilities.

To conclude, Dunmore East fishery harbour centre will continue to be important in the consideration, preparation and roll-out of future fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programmes. Funds, subject to budgetary constraints, will continue to be made available for necessary maintenance and improvement of the facilities in Dunmore East and for the betterment of the port, its users, and the local economy.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I welcome the fact that €800,000 was made available under the capital programme to extend and widen the slipway. The real issue is the €4 million necessary to dredge the harbour and dispose of the spoil material. I accept that the project must be conducted in an appropriate manner due to the presence of TBT.

The Minister of State acknowledged that there is a difficulty with the port's activity because it has been hampered by the need to dredge. Perhaps today is a good day to ask for €4 million. The funding would benefit the economy in two ways. First, there would be increased tourism, leading to greater numbers of people using pleasure crafts and so on. Second, a greater number of fishing vessels would use the harbour. Both improvements would mean that State would get back its €4 million investment very quickly. I appeal to the Minister to make the money available because the harbour at Dunmore and the wider economy will benefit from the investment.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I reassure the Senator that the Government is committed to providing the funding as soon as it has the money. He has made a good case for the project and officials in my Department will continue to monitor same. I have no doubt that the case made by the Senator and others will be successful. I shall endeavour to help the project in any way I can, within the Department, to make sure the project succeeds. Obviously an investment would be money well spent. I know the area myself and I understand how the harbour will benefit. The Senator has my full support in securing funding. I have no doubt, in the current climate and as we leave our economic difficulties behind, that money will become available. Stand-alone projects such as this one which can create money for a local community and area need to be supported. I give the Senator my commitment that my Department will provide support at all times.