Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be provided in the budget 2018 Estimates for his Department to enable the dredging of Howth fishery harbour in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41228/17]

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 under Statute. 

Regarding a possible dredging project in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, preparation work has been underway for some time.  A report from site investigation works, which was commissioned in 2015, was received by my Department in March 2016. The report included vital information on the nature of the material to be dredged in any future dredging project.

The information revealed from the Site Investigation Report indicated that some of the dredge material would not be suitable for conventional disposal at sea.  

In June 2016, a firm of consulting engineers were engaged to prepare a report on a potential dredging project at Howth, to include the possible scope of the project, various disposal options for the dredged material at Howth and permitting requirements.

An initial draft of this report was received by my Department in February 2017 and the final report was received on 14th March last. This report was reviewed by my Department's Marine Engineering Division and they raised a number of concerns. The Marine Engineering Division met with the consulting engineers on 28^thJune 2017 to review those concerns. The concerns were accepted and a revised report is due imminently.

Depending on the outcome of a review of the revised report, and as is the case for all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, any decision with regard to progressing this project further under the 2018 Capital Programme will be considered on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.