Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money allocated for the development of Dunmore East harbour, County Waterford; the work proposed to be done with this allocation; the amount of work to be done dredging the channel up the estuary towards Waterford beyond Dunmore East; if a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the proposed works; if it has, the result of this cost benefit; the details of the consultation with local fishing interests in Dunmore East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25086/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department. I am happy to inform the Deputy that a total of €4.45 million has been approved for works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The projects are as follows:

A major part of the funding approved relates to dredging works at the Fishery Harbour Centre. This maintenance dredging operation will cover the harbour area itself and the short incoming channel. The works will not include dredging the channel towards Waterford as this area is not within the boundaries of the Fishery Harbour Centre. The necessity for these works has been noted for some time to support and develop the fishing industry as well as assist other harbour users. I am happy that I was in a position to make the necessary funds available this year to complete this essential harbour development.

No cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the project. Siltation of the harbour is a major problem in Dunmore East, and has been occurring continuously over the years. I have sanctioned this dredging operation having had regard to the following considerations.

- The FHC hasn’t been dredged for many years and recent siltation has seriously limited the available draught at the harbour entrance and throughout.

- Fishing vessels have also increased in size in recent years and this combined with the siltation seriously impedes their manoeuvrability.

- Vessels rest on the bed at low tide reducing their available time for fishing and a number of vessels have grounded in the middle of the harbour.

- The syncrolift is no longer usable due to siltation in this area.

- The lifeboat is restricted at low water.

The Request for Tender for the dredging project was published on the 26^thMay with a closure date 23^rdJune. It is expected that the contract will commence in early August.

There is regular consultation between local fishing groups and individuals and the Harbour Master, in addition there is also a regular Harbour Users Forum meeting attended by local fishing interests, other harbour users and officials from my Department. The last meeting was held on the 2nd of Oct 2013 in Dunmore East. These interactions inform decisions on new developments at the Harbour.

The development and upkeep of Dunmore East as a state of the art Fishery Harbour Centre, supporting a broad range of marine related activities is and will remain an ongoing process. The dredging of the harbour together with the funding of the other developments outlined is part of a long term strategy to deliver on the potential of Dunmore East for job creation and as a tourist destination.