Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will consider FHC status for a harbour (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will increase the funding available to the harbour; if he will meet with the harbour board to discuss these matters; his plans for the future of harbours and ports generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4975/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Dingle Harbour operates under the 1946 Harbours Act whereby commissioners are appointed to manage the port. Dingle Harbour commissioners have sought designation of Dingle as a fishery harbour centres, so as to rank among the fishery harbour centres, which are 100% funded by the Exchequer, to which the Fishery Harbour Centre Acts 1968 to 1998 apply. The designated fishery harbour centres are Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Rossaveel and Killybegs. Such designation for Dingle Harbour is under consideration and no decision has been made to date.

In 2004, funding of €201,000 was provided for dredging site investigation works and €86,000 for a weighbridge at Dingle Harbour. The question of funding works at Dingle Harbour will depend on the amount of funding available for works at fishery harbours generally and overall national priorities into the future. My officials met with the board in 2004 to discuss these and other matters and will be happy to do so again.

The national development plan sets out the programme objectives for fishery harbour development. These are the development and construction of fishery harbour and related facilities at key strategic fishery harbours and the construction and improvement of berthage at smaller harbours and landing places. The plan provides €84.35 million for capital investment in fishery harbours infrastructure and facilities over the period 2000 to 2006. Up to the end of 2004, the Department has spent €98.58 million under this programme.

The total allocation for 2005 is €20.55 million. This includes funding for various projects, including the upgrading and modernisation of Port Oriel, Clogherhead, which is owned by Louth County Council and for which the council will contribute 25% of the cost; the development of the Dinish Wharf extension and the provision of a suitable harbour services building on the extension; the development of new ferry berths at Rossaveel fishery harbour centre, for which funding is provided jointly with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and the development options at Dunmore East fishery harbour centre.

The completion of the programme in future years will be dependent on the availability of funding.