John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the overall costs to the State of developing the new facilities at Killybegs, County Donegal; the number of auctions held to date at the auction hall; the other uses being made of the auction hall and the income it is generating; his views that the spend on the project is value for money for the State; his plans for the future of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40096/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre benefited from an investment of in excess of €50 million between 1999 and 2005. The investment saw the provision of world class facilities at the harbour including 450 metres of new quay, cargo sheds and a boat repair building. The investment at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre has had a significant and positive impact on the Killybegs Region and has led to substantial increases in economic activity for the region. The following tables illustrate well the year on year increase in the economic outturn accruing to the region.

Value of Landings at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre (€ millions)

Value of Pelagic Fish Processing at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre (€ millions)

Value of Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre Ancillary Activities (€ millions)

I am confident that the investment made at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre will continue to accrue significant benefit to the region for the future.

The auction hall facility was not part of the new harbour development project and predated that development. Demand for harbour based fish auction facilities has declined in recent years in line with current market practices and there is currently no demand at all for fish auctions at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. The auction hall has been used to facilitate fishermen in relation to the storage of nets and has also facilitated the hosting of the popular biennial Fish Ireland Exhibitions. In addition and as a goodwill gesture towards the local community my Department has allowed the storage of church furniture in the hall whilst the local Roman Catholic Church is undergoing renovation.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number properties managed by him at Killybegs, County Donegal, Howth, County Dublin, Castletownbere, County Cork, Dingle, County Kerry, Dunmore East, County Waterford and Rossaveel, County Galway, are occupied on rent review lease; if he has engaged with each tenant to review downward the rents in view of the economic climate; the outcome of this review if any; the number of properties vacant and the length of time they have been vacant; the way the vacant property is being managed and marketed; the cost of maintenance and security relative to each vacant property; the amount of State funds spent at each location over the past six years or the cost of the original investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40097/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department owns and operates, under Statute, six Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, An Daingean (Dingle), Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth. Properties located in the Fishery Harbour Centres are, when appropriate, offered for lease. An individual lease agreement, which is a formal legally binding document on both parties, is voluntarily signed at the outset by the tenant and a Departmental official (on behalf of the Minister).

The specific terms and conditions of each lease are unique to each property and my Department is not in a position to comment on the terms of individual leases. All leases issued in the six Fishery Harbour Centres contain provisions for regular rent reviews and those agreed prior to the application of Section 132 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act, 2009, have what are referred to as "upward only rent reviews".

I am however, cognisant of the prevailing economic climate in which tenants of the Fishery Harbour Centres are operating and whilst my Department is precluded from offering tenants a downward rent review, it has recently offered tenants on whose properties rent reviews have been due since 2008 the opportunity to remain at the rent as set at the time of the most recent review. This move has provided a level of certainty to tenants in relation to the rental charges.

Vacant properties at the six Fishery Harbour Centres are managed in accordance with the requirements of the individual Fishery Harbour Centres and the Department of Finance issued Public Procurement Guidelines and are offered for lease as and when appropriate.

All of the properties are located within the bounds of the Fishery Harbour Centres and any necessary maintenance and security is managed by the individual Harbour Masters and staff.

Capital works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres are funded under the Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme and the expenditure on the Programme since 2006 is set out in the following table.