David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop the harbour at Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19932/18]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the development of Dunmore East harbour to facilitate a shared use of the harbour by fishermen, visiting cruise ships, the RNLI and the Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19935/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 372 together.

Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. It is first and foremost a busy working fishery harbour which also provides for other complementary ancillary activities, seafood processing enterprises, cruise liner visits and other marine leisure enterprises.

The development of the defining infrastructure in Dunmore East for the purposes of supporting the fishing industry commenced in the 1960's and was completed in the early 1970's. The infrastructure places limits on Harbour managements' ability to cater for and safely facilitate an ever increasing demand for diverse and additional usage.

At all times safety is a primary concern, and my Department, specifically local Harbour Management has and will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the core fishing activity continues and is managed appropriately, while balancing this priority with the safe operation of all other Harbour activity.

In regard to developments in the Harbour, I am happy to advise the Deputy that in excess of €14 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Dunmore East FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2010 to 2017, most notably including the €6 million dredging project in 2015 which has improved conditions for fishing vessels in the harbour and manoeuvrability for fish landings.

In addition, I allocated further funding of €2.4 million this year for the ongoing maintenance and development of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre. Significant works in this year’s capital programme include the continuation of the West Wharf upgrade works scheduled for completion in the coming months at a total cost in the region of €3 million.

I also expect that the development of the area known as Shanoon will be completed this year. This area has been used in recent years as a car park, the surface of the area has been in very poor condition and required work to bring it to a satisfactory standard for users. Ninety two car parking spaces will be provided in this development which is expected to cost in the region of €250,000. A new drainage network is being installed as part of these works, as well as new footpaths. Lighting columns will also be located at various locations throughout the parking areas. The existing earthen embankments will be retained where possible throughout the car parking areas. Visibility over the embankments out to sea is to be maintained.

These substantial investments demonstrate my ongoing commitment to the development of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre. As the Deputy is aware, all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to deepen the harbour at Dunmore East to facilitate visits from cruise ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19933/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. It is first and foremost a busy working fishery harbour which also provides for other complementary ancilliary activities, seafood processing enterprises, cruise liner visits and other marine leisure enterprises.

The development of the defining infrastructure in Dunmore East for the purposes of supporting the fishing industry commenced in the 1960's and was completed in the early 1970's.  

The infrastructure places limits on Harbour managements' ability to cater for large ocean going cruise liners. These vessels cannot berth in Dunmore East and consequently anchor in the channel and passengers are tendered into Dunmore East.

At all times safety is a primary concern, and my Department, specifically local Harbour Management has and will continue to work positively with the interested parties  to ensure that this activity can continue to operate in a safe manner having consideration for other Harbour Activities.

As part of my Departments Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, a €6 million dredging project within the Harbour was completed in 2015. Responsibility for deepening the channel outside the confines of the Harbour boundary would be a matter for the Port of Waterford.