Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 854: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department will be contributing to the essential repairs to Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours now that his Department has finalised the ownership transfer from Dublin Port Company to Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1059/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours were transferred from the ownership of Dublin Port Company to the control of Fingal County Council in 2004 as provided for in the Harbours Act 1996.

Following receipt of a submission regarding works required at Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours by Fingal County Council in 2005, the Department responsible at the time, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, made a once-off payment of €231,817 as a contribution to the total work required at the harbours. Further contributions from this Department are not currently under consideration.

Government policy in relation to ports, including the regional harbours, is set out in the Ports Policy Statement published in January 2005. The policy statement notes that many regional harbours have neither the resources nor the capability to comply with aspects of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, whereas their transfer to local authority control would bring improved corporate governance and allow the harbours to realise their amenity potential.

The Department is working with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to advance the implementation of the ports policy statement with regard to the transfer of regional harbours to local authority control. The Department has invested in essential public safety works at a number of regional harbours in 2004-05 and plans to continue with a similar programme of works in 2006. The Department proposes to make funds available to allow additional works to be undertaken at the regional harbours where appropriate and justifiable, to protect the public and the fabric of the harbours. The Department is currently assessing what essential works might be undertaken in 2006 within the limited budget available.