Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Transport if the necessary funding will be provided to enable Tralee and Fenit Harbour Board to carry out essential, structural, operational and safety work at Fenit Harbour, including repairs to the viaduct from a dredging refurbishment of the main pier, provision of a new car park, remedial work to West Wall and Crossed Quay and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16115/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for Tralee and Fenit Harbour and for 12 other regional harbours operating under the Harbours Act 1946, transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the Department of Transport with effect from 1 January 2006.

Funding of €600,000 was provided in 2004 to Tralee and Fenit Harbour towards repairs to the viaduct and for the widening of the pier. The Harbour Commissioners were made aware in correspondence at that time that there was no commitment to provide further Exchequer funding for additional works; that they would have to make arrangements to provide funding for any additional works from their own resources.

The Commissioners have recently sought additional funding for remedial works at their harbour. Their funding proposals and those from the other regional harbours will be considered over the coming months, in the context of the necessity to prioritise the limited available budget towards essential safety and remedial works.

The limited resources available in the Department for expenditure on regional harbours are being concentrated on essential safety and remedial works, pending the transfer of the harbours to local authority or port company control, in accordance with the Government's Ports Policy Statement, which was published in January 2005.