Dunmore East harbour cannot wait seven to 10 years for upgrade according to Waterford TD
Dunmore East harbour. Photo: Dan Linehan
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane has accused the government of a lack of commitment to and ambition for Waterford’s coastal infrastructure.
Deputy Cullinane raised the matter in the Dáil on Tuesday during a debate on topical issues.
He asked Deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who was answering questions on behalf of Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, why there hadn’t been any movement on the Dunmore East harbour upgrade since the feasibility study in 2019.
Deputy Murnane O’Connor responded: “The Department is evaluating the responses to a tender for a consultant to prepare a seven to 10-year business plan to enable each of the fishery harbour centres to work to clear, strategic objectives. The business consultant will look at each of the harbours, consider the characteristics and produce individual plans.
"It is expected that there will be town-hall-type consultations in each harbour with all relevant stakeholders to consider their needs. There will be town hall meetings in this regard.”
In a statement following the debate, Deputy Cullinane said that upgrades to Dunmore East harbour cannot wait for seven to 10 years.
He said upgrades to the harbour are needed to facilitate the level of fishing, leisure, and cruise liner activity at Dunmore East, which were identified in a report seven years ago.
“Dunmore East Harbour has huge potential, but that potential will not be fully realised without proper capital investment and permanent berthing infrastructure.
“For years, development options for Dunmore East Harbour have been identified. A report into Dunmore East Harbour was commissioned back in 2016, finished in 2019, and has sat on a shelf ever since.
"The only thing lacking to deliver upgrades at Dunmore East is Government backing.
“The latest response from the Government when I raised this issue in the Dáil this week indicates that there will be no substantial capital funding coming for Dunmore East.
"The Minister’s response was all about seven-to-10-year business plans, and nothing about the immediate need which the harbour faces.
“The current level of investment is simply not enough. What are our local Ministers doing about this? Dunmore East is central to our fishing industry, our maritime economy and our tourism offering, but it is not being prioritised.
“The work has already been done to identify what Dunmore East needs. There have been enough studies and consultations. The Government must stop sitting on the plans and start funding the future of Dunmore East Harbour.
“Waterford has the ambition. Dunmore East has the potential. What is missing is Government commitment,” said Deputy Cullinane.
When asked if they had any plans to pursue the plans for which a feasibility study was carried out in 2019, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine responded: "The preferred option remains under consideration however any future development would be subject to securing appropriate consents, and securing funding, which is allocated on an annual basis in line with national priorities for Exchequer funds and competing priorities within the Department.
"Any proposed project will also need to comply with requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines as published by Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Sector Reform and Digitalisation, in particular Cost-Benefit analysis.
They also confirmed that a public consultation process was carried out at the time of the feasibility study.
