Council to take control of Dún Laoghaire Harbour

HISTORY will be made this week when Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is transferred to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

The council said they had been advised by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that the Minister had determined that the date of the transfer would be October 3.

This means that on that date the council will assume full responsibility for the management and operation of the harbour.

The decision was made in accordance with the Harbours Act 2015. There will be no interruption in service delivery from the harbour as staff and contracts all transfer directly.

 The 200-year-old harbour has a long and distinguished history and is one of the finest man-made harbours in the world. It is an integral part of Dún Laoghaire and gives the town its unique sense of place. The Chief Executive and Elected Members are all committed to maintaining and upgrading public access to this remarkable amenity and will work to maintain the medium to long-term sustainability of the Harbour in conjunction with all existing and future stakeholders while managing its existing infrastructural deficits.

 The council will ensure that Dún Laoghaire Harbour continues to be recognised as a location of choice for marine and leisure activities as well as a destination of choice for visitors.

 Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Philomena Poole, said: "The transfer of management of the harbour is a significant moment for this local authority.

“While it is very disappointing and will present challenges to the council that no funding has been made available to resolve the infrastructure issues we will work with stakeholders to safeguard a positive, vibrant future for the harbour and maximise on its heritage and economic potential.”

Richard Boyd Barrett of the People Before Profit party said the transfer of the harbour was a victory for people power.

As chairperson of the Save Our Seafront group, he said they had run a sustained campaign along with other local groups and harbour users for the development of public amenities in the harbour, such as a publicly run, National Maritime and water-sports centre and a Diaspora Museum to commemorate the harbour’s unique heritage.

 “It is vital that the council now establish a genuinely representative community and harbour users’ stakeholder group that will have real input into the development of the harbour,” he said.