Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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452. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a case (details supplied) regarding permission to berth a second vessel in Howth Harbour; the reason this permission has not yet been granted; when permission will be granted for this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33776/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, 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. 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.

The issue raised by the Deputy refers to the conditions whereby passenger ferry licences, and associated moorings and berths are granted. The individual referred to has not submitted any application in respect of 2017.

Applications for passenger ferry licences, moorings and berths are approved on an annual basis having considered health and safety, the operational probity of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, the available infrastructure and capacity at the Harbour at any given time.

I can tell the deputy that for operational and strategic reasons it has been decided to relocate all passenger ferry activities from the East Pier, Howth to dedicated pontoons on the West Pier. Construction of theses pontoons will commence in Mid November with the expectation that they will be in place early in 2017.

When operational the Department will be able to reconsider the limits on the number of passenger ferry vessels operating from Howth.