MINISTER IN CHARGE OF HARBOURS TELLS GREEN PARTY LEADER THAT A REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR BALBRIGGAN AND SKERRIES HARBOURS IS BEING EVALUATED

Local T.D. and Green Party Leader, Trevor Sargent, raised a question in Dáil Éireann, following a meeting with Fingal County Manager, Mr John Tierney, to highlight the need for funding from Government to assist the Council in carrying out the necessary extensive repairs to Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours.

Deputy Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources “if he will consider the need for funding being stressed by Fingal County Council following the hand over of harbours under the Harbours Act 1996, in Balbriggan and Skerries and the subsequent need for extensive repairs to be carried out including the rebuilding of the harbour wall which has partly collapsed into the harbour in Balbriggan; and if he will further consider the willingness of Fingal County Council to provide matching funding the spirit of partnership with his Department.”

In reply the Minister stated that “The Department has invested in essential public safety works at a number of regional harbours in 2004 and plans to continue with a similar programme of works in 2005 and 2006.

The Department proposes to make funds available to allow additional works to be undertaken at the regional harbours where appropriate and justifiable, to protect the public and the fabric of the harbours. The Department is currently assessing what essential works might be undertaken in 2005 and 2006 within the limited budget available.

A submission regarding works required at Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours has been received in the Department and forwarded to the Department’s Engineering Division for their evaluation”.

In response Deputy Sargent said “neglect of our harbours down the years is symptomatic of a general undervaluing and under appreciation of our marine environment. There is no point the Minister telling me the transfer of the harbours to local authority control will bring improved corporate governance and allow the harbours to realise their amenity potential unless he is prepared to meet Fingal County Council half way and provide matching funding so as to ensure the harbours can be brought up to a standard which could then begin to see their real potential realised from both an amenity and a fishing point of view. I will continue to keep the pressure on the Government to uphold its side of the bargain and I would welcome any letters of support for this harbour restoration and development campaign which I will give personally to the Minister as a reminder to him of the importance which the community attaches to these historic harbours.” concluded Deputy Sargent.

ends.

Information: Trevor Sargent, T.D.

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