Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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22. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current efforts to enhance the national fishery harbour at Howth, including the further development of commercial and maritime tourism operations to generally encourage enterprise at Howth harbour and to further redevelop the local fishery industry; and his plans for the harbour and the harbour workforce over the next five to ten years. [20268/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Howth Fishery Harbour Centre in County Dublin is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department. While Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour, there are also a wide range of recreational users of the harbour, including the yacht club, sport fishermen, walkers, tourists and other social users.

Notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, I am happy to be able to advise that in excess of €3.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2013. This investment has resulted in a significant improvement in the electrical infrastructure available, the traffic management system and the access available to persons of reduced mobility. It has also served as a catalyst for the enhancement of facilities available to the marine leisure and tourism sector, boat repair facilities and indeed business generally in the harbour.

On 20 March 2014 I approved funding of €1.18 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre this year. Major works for 2014 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system. The development and upkeep of Howth as a state of the art Fishery Harbour Centre, supporting a broad range of marine related activities is and will remain an ongoing process. Any suggestions from Fishery Harbour Users for the development and improvement of the facilities at Howth will, as has been the case, be given due consideration.

Ultimately a strategic view, optimising best value for money while delivering on a public service delivery remit will be foremost when considering future developments in the harbour. Of course this will be done on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities. Staffing requirements of the Harbour remain under ongoing review.