Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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402. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reply to correspondence from this Deputy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49243/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that I have replied to the correspondence in question. In relation to the subject matter of the correspondence, I can confirm that there is no change to the status of the border control post (BCP) at Shannon Airport. The BCP remains fully operational, staffed, and ready to process consignments requiring SPS checks that land at Shannon Airport. As the BCP remains fully operational, there is no requirement for businesses to transport goods that arrive in Shannon, to Dublin Airport for checks.

Shannon had never been designated as the first point of arrival for consignments landing at Dublin Airport. Whilst issues around the construction of a BCP at Dublin Airport were being resolved, an exceptional arrangement was put in place whereby products that landed in Dublin Airport were sent by truck for clearance at the BCP in Shannon. This arrangement could not continue indefinitely, as it is not in compliance with the requirements of EU legislation.

As ever, staff in my Department's Import Controls Operations Division remain available to assist businesses in complying with their legal obligations. Should any individual businesses have issues, I would advise that they contact staff in the headquarters of that division in Dublin Port.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a clear timeframe on when the area around his Department owned Syncro lift in Dunmore East County Waterford will be dredged to remove silt that will then allow all sizes of fishing and other vessels to be lifted from the waters for maintenance and repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49244/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Syncrolift facilities are available at four of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, namely Dunmore East, Howth, Castletownbere and Killybegs. The syncrolifts have different capabilities with larger vessels being accommodated at Killybegs and Howth Fishery Harbour Centres. The syncrolift in Dunmore East is capable of lifts up to 230 tonnes and a transfer system to a repair yard is available. The Department's syncrolifts are routinely inspected and maintained and the Dunmore East syncrolift is currently undergoing maintenance which will be completed shortly. This routine maintenance will not increase the lift capability and any larger vessels will still need to look elsewhere for appropriate services.

The syncrolift in Dunmore East has seen a reduction in use in recent years with only around four lifts per annum. There may be a number of factors affecting this, including competition from private facilities, increases in vessels sizes and proximity of services, which the Department intends to review.