Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans he has to develop Dunmore East Harbour, County Waterford, which falls under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50559/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The harbour at Dunmore East was designated as a Fishery Harbour Centre by virtue of the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended). My Department has responsibility for its maintenance and development.

I am conscious of the valuable contribution the harbour makes to the fishing industry and indeed to the local community in terms of the support the harbour infrastructure provides to the development of the tourist industry.

My officials regularly meet with the various stakeholders at the Fishery Harbour Centre in order to share information and to get their views on the potential future development of the harbour. I can confirm that this year alone my Department provided funding of €563,500 for maintenance, development and upgrading works at the Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre as part of its Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The provision of funding for the future development of the harbour will be given consideration when drafting the 2013 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.