Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of local harbours and ports that have been given over to local government control; the roles, responsibilities of local governments in relation to local ports; the funding available to manage local ports; his policy regarding the disposal of harbour property, plant and assets by local government; the number of local port companies that have been sold or transferred to private ownership; and his policy regarding the sale of port property, plant and assets to private companies. [25489/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The following local harbours have been transferred to local authority control:

Buncrana and Ballyshannon harbours to Donegal County Council in 1999

Balbriggan and Skerries harbours to Fingal County Council in 2004

Annagassan and Sligo harbours to Louth County Council and Sligo County Council respectively in 2006.

In addition, Dingle was designated a Fisheries Harbour in 2007. No harbours have been sold or transferred to private ownership. There currently remain ten harbour authorities operating under the Harbours Act 1946. These harbour authorities are composed of commissioners whose duties include the management, control, maintenance and operation of the harbour.

Policy in relation to the regional harbours, as published in the Ports Policy Statement in 2005, is that the continued operation of these harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance and that most would best achieve their potential through transfer to local authority ownership. Where it is not possible to reach agreement on transfer to local authorities, the option of sale of the harbours will be considered. In harbours where significant commercial traffic exists, consideration will be given to bringing such harbours under the control of a port company.

For over three years now, my Department has been funding essential works to protect the fabric of these regional harbours at an average cost of approximately €4m per annum, pending their transfer to local control.

The transfer of the harbours to local authority control is effected by means of an order made by the Minister for Transport with the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The order transfers all the property, rights and liabilities of the harbour authority and every member of their staff to the relevant local authority. On completion of the transfer, the Harbours Act 1946 no longer applies and the harbours concerned are managed in accordance with the statutory powers available to the local authority. The statutory powers of local authorities are a matter for the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government.