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 to provide for the needs of fishermen and the fishing industry generally. However, all the Centres have 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, while first and foremost a working fishery harbour, my Department is conscious that 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, including the yacht club, sport fishermen, walkers, tourists and other social users. These activities generate large volumes of vehicular traffic to the harbour.

Traffic Management is one of the areas where my Department has made investments to improve the safety of those visiting the harbour. Under my Departments 2015 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development programme I have allocated €115,000 in two tranches for these purposes, €75,000 in March and a further €40,000 in July. Areas attracting these funds include bollards, kerbing, footpath realignment and road lining. These monies augment funds allocated in previous years for the ongoing safety improvements at the harbour.

In matters concerning traffic management and road safety, my Department works closely with Fingal County Council and an Garda Síochána. In view of the high level of harbour traffic in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and of health and safety concerns, a firm of consulting engineers examined the overall traffic management which considered traffic calming and pedestrian movements. The consultants conducted a Road Safety Audit and amongst the recommendations was a roundabout at the West Pier car park exit which is currently an unregulated junction.

A planning application to introduce traffic management measures, including the roundabout at the West Pier car park exit, was submitted to Fingal County Council. On the 23 September last my Department received a Notification of Decision to Grant Permission for a new roundabout and associated work at the West Pier car park exit.

The decision to grant was appealed to An Bord Pleanála on 21 October and the Department must now await the outcome of this process before proceeding any further.

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 consideration.

The Comptroller & Auditor General in his Special Report (No 82 of July 2014) and the related Report of the Public Accounts Committee of 24 June 2015 have asked the Department to review the position re pay parking in Howth, in conjunction with other Fishery Harbour Centres with a view to increasing income generation possibilities.

However, 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.

Traffic and parking management within the Fishery Harbour Centre itself has been an issue for some time, particularly in the light of concerns raised about safety and emergency access by the Coastguard, the Lifeboat service, and An Garda Síochána. In this regard, upgrading works to the car park, including lining of parking spaces, have taken place as part of the harbour’s new traffic management scheme. In 2015 I have allocated €115,000 for the continuation of these improvements.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The property portfolio in Howth, one of six Fishery Harbour Centres managed and operated by my Department, encompasses a range of diverse properties reflecting its remit as a working fishery harbour and its unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective. My Department’s aim, working within the Government Framework for the management of State property and relevant legal frameworks, is to ensure that the sites within this diverse portfolio generate a competitive economic return while fostering a diverse range of maritime activities. In this context my Department reviews the portfolio of properties on an ongoing basis in order to optimise those returns to the Exchequer.

In June 2015 my Department offered two of these properties in Howth for tenancy under lease agreement by competitive public tender. The competitions were advertised on my Department’s website, in a national and local newspaper and within the harbour and were open to all interested parties. Lease agreements have been finalised with the successful tenderers for both properties.

While some properties in Howth may appear vacant they may be legally occupied. Others may not be suitable for tendering.

Currently there are two properties which are suitable for tendering but are subject to legal, operational or planning considerations and cannot be made available for tenancy until these issues are resolved. These issues are being progressed and, when appropriate, further tender competitions will be publicly advertised, in a similar manner to the previous competitions.

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. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features which is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities.

My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both.  This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources.

In 2015, I have allocated €1.79m for capital works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre under the 2015 Fishery Harbour Capital Development Programme. The following table provides a breakdown of the approved projects in 2015:

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. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features and is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities. My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both.  This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources.

I am happy to advise the Deputy that, notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, 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.

Supporting the needs of the fishing industry and those of the wider range of harbour users, while continuing to deliver on a public service remit, will be foremost when considering future developments in the harbour. As with all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, future projects at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under the Capital Programme on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing National priorities.