Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 697: To ask the Minister for Transport the criteria that were used to determine whether Arklow, County Wicklow was a port or a harbour under local authority management. [30226/08]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 699: To ask the Minister for Transport the criteria used to determine management status of ports and harbours. [30228/08]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 699 together.

There are ten remaining regional harbours under my Department's aegis, operating under the provisions of the Harbours Act 1946, while ten commercial port companies operate under the provisions of the Harbours Acts 1996 to 2005.

Government policy, as outlined in the Ports Policy Statement published in 2005, is that the remaining harbours operating under the Harbours Act 1946, be transferred, by ministerial order under section 88(2) of the Harbours Act 1996, to local control in cases where there is little or no commercial traffic. This is the case in relation to Arklow Harbour, which now has little or no commercial traffic.

The Policy Statement highlighted that the continued operation of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance and reiterated the view that most of these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to local authority ownership.