Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1638: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to fund the dredging at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32385/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Funding was provided under the 2009 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for the completion of a feasibility study on the dredging of the harbour. This study was undertaken by Engineering Consultants RPS on the proposed methods and related dredging costs for Dunmore East harbour. The final report was issued in November 2009. The main findings were that 80% of the harbour sediment contains Tributyltin (TBT). The cost associated with the disposal of dredge spoil containing TBT is significantly higher than for uncontaminated material. Various options for dredging the harbour were examined and in general the costs were in the order of €6 million.

My Department's Engineering division undertook a more detailed Hydrographic Study in the harbour recently and this is currently being examined by our Engineers, however this will not in any way alter the overall cost to any significant degree.