Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken each year since 2011 to develop fishing, boat repairs, tourism, and other small businesses at Howth fishery harbour in Dublin 13; the number of jobs maintained and created in the harbour over the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34019/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute.  All six Fishery Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours.  However each centre has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective.  Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is no exception to this diversity. It is also a very important tourist destination in addition to being a major venue for leisure activities with a wide range of recreational users of the harbour. There is also significant number of businesses, particularly restaurants, operating in the Harbour. With that in mind the Department engages with stakeholders to increase the profile of the Harbour for the betterment of the wider community.

To this end, the Harbour regularly approves applications for events, yacht races, local celebrations and various functions etc within the harbour precincts. In addition, the Department approved locating the Howth Tourism Information Office within the confines of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. This facility opened in July 2014.

Notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, I am happy to be able to advise the Deputy that in excess of €4.2 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 2014.

For 2015, I approved funding of €1.79 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Major works for 2015 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system, provision of a small craft pontoon and traffic management works.

There are a total of 70 properties in the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio encompassing a range of economic activity. Properties are made available by means of competitive public tender, the most recent competition being held on the 15th June this year. The majority of Fishery Harbour Centre properties are leased by my Department to a variety of public and private sector tenants which support this range of activities.

Employment statistics relating to the private and state organisations operating out of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre are not available, however I am satisfied that the investments made by my Department in the infrastructure of the Harbour are facilitating the maintenance and development of commercial, industrial, leisure and tourist related activity at the harbour and in the wider Howth area.