Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

771. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the works on resurfacing the east pier upper deck at Howth Harbour will commence; and the estimated completion timeframe for these works. [16998/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In March this year I announced details of €27.75 million allocated for capital projects in Ireland’s publicly owned harbours through the 2025 Fishery Harbour Centre and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The investment will modernise and enhance the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl which are owned, operated, developed and maintained by my Department under statute.

The announcement includes €2.18 million for Howth FHC, of which €0.5 million is allocated to the East Pier Upper Deck Resurfacing project.

All capital projects are subject to rigorous project management processes including design, tender action and implementation stages, and ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructural Guidelines.

Additionally, all contractual projects are subject to the applicable conditions of contract and, as such, it is necessary to follow due process in accordance with such conditions.

My Department is currently engaged in the planning permission application process with Fingal County Council. Due to the heritage and conservation aspect of the structure, and also the proximity of the works to Special Areas of Conservation and the new Special Protection Area for birds, it is necessary to carry out an Appropriate Assessment screening as part of the application process.

In addition, the works will be weather dependant due to the exposed location and potential over-topping of waves at East Pier.

Therefore, it is not possible to advise with certainty the exact commencement or completion date of the project at this time. However, the works are expected to commence by the latter half of this year i.e. in late Quarter 3 or early Quarter 4.