Harbour funding is announced

HOWTH Harbour is set to receive a further €6.4 million in investment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under its 2019 Capital Programme. 

This investment, announced last week, follows on from the €2.89 million announced in funding for the harbour in 2018. 

The €6.4 million announced in the 2019 round of funding will go towards a Middle Pier Berthing Face, dredging of the harbour, storage units, repairs to the East Pier and disability access.

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton (pictured below) and Senator Catherine Noone (FG) were among those to welcome the announcement. 

Minister Bruton said: “The additional berthing at the Middle Pier will help to increase the levels of fishing activity in the harbour. 

“Howth is one of Ireland’s best harbours and this investment from Government will help to improve the standards of the facilities in the harbour creating increased economic activity that will directly benefit both the fishing community and wider community of Howth.” 

Senator Noone, a Fine Gael candidate in Dublin Bay North for the next general election, said: “I have been working with Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Michael Creed for some time in order to secure this funding for Howth and will continue to work alongside the Minister to ensure that this is just a first step.

“Among the developments will be repairs to the East Pier, improved disability access to the harbour, storage, safety and maintenance.

“There will also be significant funding provided for the Middle Pier Berthing Face, as well as initial steps towards the dredging of Howth Harbour, something which I have consistently worked for.” 

Senator Noone said the dredging of Howth harbour has not been carried out since the 1980s and is of significant concern to local businesses and fishermen.

“The significant funding for the Middle Pier Berthing face will also be of great benefit to the RNLI which is based in the Middle Pier,” she added.

“The RNLI are a vital part of our community and I am delighted the funding allocated will benefit them also.”