Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Howth 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 acknowledged that siltation continues to be a problem in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and my Department is awaiting consideration of an appeal made to an Bord Pleanála on planning permission that Fingal County Council granted for a major capital project to address siltation at Howth. The project plans to dredge Howth basin and reuse the materials for reclamation, including to make a new public realm area at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. The key objective of the project is to broaden the accessibility and navigability of the basin at Howth for all users and to re-use the material recovered from the seabed to create a new area of public realm.The land reclamation will provide a mix of recreational public access green areas, slipway access to the water for small craft and provide areas for business, harbour operations and transport. The ambitious and innovative project aims to integrate social, environmental and sustainability benefits for the community.

Planning permission was issued on 5th August 2022 and a third party appeal was subsequently lodged with An Bord Pleanála on 30th Aug 2022. My Department has also made an application to the Environmental Protection Agency for a waste licence which would also be required for this project. If the consent decisions are in favour of the development, my Department will seek to secure any other tools necessary to deliver the project, subject to the availability of funding from the Exchequer.