John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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602. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a full cost benefit analysis of the proposals to introduce paid parking at Howth Harbour, County Dublin, has been carried out yet; the factors it took into account; if it will be published; the current position regarding his Department's controversial proposal to introduce such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31825/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have been considering introducing a charge for parking facilities within Howth Fishery Harbour Centre for some time,

- to assist in operating Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on a financially-sound basis,

- to provide a source of revenue for further investment in Fishery Harbour Centre facilities,

- as part of an overall traffic management plan, and

- in order to maximise the return on this significant State asset.

A broad range of factors are being considered and will influence my decision in this matter. Firstly, Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour, one of 6 operated by the State, each of whose primary purpose is to provide facilities and services for the fishing industry and fisheries-related activities. Funding for operating, management and development costs in the fishery harbours is ring-fenced in the Fishery Harbour Centres Fund, which is the only source of revenue available for that purpose.

Capital investment in the Fishery Harbour Centres in recent years has underpinned both fisheries activities and their expanding use for leisure and marine tourism and other maritime enterprises. In the current economic climate, the State must be fully committed to maximising the return on that investment.

Moreover, my Department is required to ensure that the Fishery Harbour Centres are run on a financially-sound basis. The 500+ parking spaces within the boundaries of the Harbour would assist in balancing the books, and in providing funding for re-investment that would not otherwise be available.

A wide range of groups use the parking facilities of Howth Fishery Harbour - harbour business customers, yacht club members, sport fishermen, Dart users, tourists, walkers and many others.

This combination of uses and the range of users of the Harbour brings its own inherent dangers and safety must be a paramount consideration. A consequence of the large volume of cars using the Fishery Harbour Centre has been huge pressure on parking, and that pressure has on a number of occasions led to a situation where emergency access to the Harbour area has been seriously compromised. The Harbour authorities have in the past received specific complaints from elements of the emergency services in that regard - fortunately no serious incident has arisen yet.

There was widespread public consultation when pay parking at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre was originally examined in detail in 2007 in conjunction with Fingal County Council. All of the various views that were expressed and submissions and analyses that were made then are still available and I am well aware of and acknowledge their concerns. I have received new correspondence on this matter from a wide range of harbour users. My officials have consulted with officials of Fingal Council, and with An Gárda Síochána, about this and related matters, and my Department's engineers have met some of the Harbour's business tenants individually about new traffic management and road markings etc. My officials also attended the Harbour Users Forum in February where pay parking was on the agenda and heard the views of the harbour users at first hand.

I am examining all aspects of the matter at present. I can assure the Deputy that the views of the various harbour users, the potential earnings, the possible impact on the harbour businesses and on recreational users, the impact on the local economy and local jobs, and the impact on overall traffic management within the Fishery Harbour, are all matters that I will take into account in coming to a decision. I can also assure the Harbour users in Howth that I am committed to continuing investment in and development of Howth for the future.