Howth Harbour auction hall and ice plant
The ice plant is being built, but the auction hall was excluded from the current infrastructure contract. The Minister said its provision would be considered after infrastructure work, expected to finish by year-end, is completed; he could not give the contract date.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry when the fish auction hall and ice plant will be erected in the Howth harbour development scheme.
Comment on this
While the development plan for Howth harbour envisages the erection of a fish auction hall, I am not yet in a position to say when work on that project can commence. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a major contract for infrastructural work at the harbour comprising mainly dredging, land reclamation, pier and breakwater construction, is at present in progress and is due to be completed this year. The provision of the auction hall and other necessary buildings will then be considered in the light of the financial resources available for them and other major harbour improvement works elsewhere.
Work on the construction of the ice plant, which is being provided by an Bord Iascaigh Mhara, has commenced.
Comment on this
The auction hall and other buildings proposed for the development are separate matters from the main contract now in progress. When the main contract has been completed the buildings will then be considered. This is because the sites for the buildings depended on the completion of the work in relation to the infrastructure, the approaches to the harbour and the land within the harbour areas.
Comment on this
Can the Minister explain the delay in having the auction hall go ahead? I realise that the ice plant is already under construction. Is the money available for the auction hall?
Comment on this
It is not a question of money not being available or being available. The present contract did not include buildings. The contract included infrastructural works, as the Deputy is aware. When these have been completed consideration then will be given to the provision of the auction hall and other buildings which may be necessary for the development of the harbour. At the moment the other works must be completed before we proceed with the auction hall.
Comment on this
The time limit is that we hope that the infrastructural work will be completed by the end of this year. That would include the levelling of ground which would be suitable for the provision of buildings. I hope it will be by the end of this year. It depends on the OPW and the speed with which they undertake the completion of the work.
