Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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38. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the dredging of a harbour (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.

My Department carried out investigations in relation to deepening the main navigation channel into Dingle Harbour some time ago. These investigation works involved a Dredging Study Report, incorporating Hydrodynamic Modelling, Benthic Studies and Chemical & Radiological Analysis of the sediments.

The Department has now completed a tender competition to procure the services of a consultancy firm with expertise in civil and marine engineering to prepare a preliminary report, detailed design and tender documentation for the Dredging of Navigation Channel Project at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre, Co. Kerry.

On 11th of January, I announced funding of €1.225 million for new capital works and the maintenance of Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre during 2016. Of importance in the context of a possible future dredging project at Dingle is the allocation of €500,000 for the preparation of a Dumping at Sea Licence which will be required before any dredging project could commence.

As with all other developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, a dredging project at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.