Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the proposal to introduce paid parking in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41155/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, owns and directly manages six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Ros an Mhíl, Killybegs and An Daingean. Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is a working fishery harbour, however it is also a very important tourist and leisure destination with many restaurants and businesses operating on the Harbour.

The question of the introduction of paid car parking on Howth Harbour, as part of an overall review of traffic management arrangements , remains under active consideration.

Income generation is not the only factor to be considered in deciding whether pay parking should be introduced in Howth, there is a broad range of other factors to be taken into account before a final decision will be made on the matter. Most importantly, the safe operation of the Harbour is of paramount concern, in this context, traffic management and parking is recognised as an issue, particularly, though not exclusively, during the busy holiday periods.