Denis O'Donovan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position with regard to the proposed new development of Baltimore Pier and Harbour; the nature of the commitment by his Department to carry out the hydrographic survey in Baltimore Harbour; and if negotiations have taken place between his Department and Cork County Council regarding the takeover of the pier and harbour by the local authority. [12714/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Both Cork County Council and Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Board have been previously advised that the allocation in this Department in respect of the national development plan is limited, and accordingly, the Department has not been in a position to announce grant aid approvals in respect of the development of regional harbours.

Talks were recently held with officials from Cork County Council and members of the Baltimore Harbour Commissioners, at their request, to discuss funding to carry out a hydrographic survey at Baltimore Harbour. I wish to clarify that there is no commitment from my Department to provide funding for this project.

As was recently indicated in the ports policy statement, published in January 2005, Baltimore Harbour is one of the ten regional harbours scheduled for transfer to the relevant local authority.

Officials from the Departments of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are at present considering the modalities for the transfer of the regional harbours to local authority ownership.

As part of that process, the local authorities concerned will shortly be asked to carry out a thorough assessment, with the co-operation of the relevant harbour authorities, and report on the potential for and possible timing of the proposed transfers in each case.