Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1978 > Committee of Public Accounts > Interim and Final Report - Appropriation Accounts 1975

APPENDIX 4

FISHERIES — FINANCING OF HAR OUR DEVELOPMENT WORKS

11 May, 1978.

An Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

During the proceedings of the Committee of Public Accounts on 16th February, 1978, I undertook to furnish a note on the financing of harbour development works. The relevant information is attached.

A. W. DUGGAN,

Accounting Officer,

Department of Fisheries.

FINANCING OF HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT WORKS

(OTHER THAN THOSE AT FISHERY HARBOUR CENTRES)

Grants are paid from Fisheries Vote (subheads C3 and C5) for approved works on publicly owned harbours and landing places. The grants cover a wide range of works e.g. the construction of slips, piers and breakwaters, the deepening of berths and approach channels, where necessary, to cater for larger boats (but excluding normal maintenance dredging) and the provision of lights, ladders, winches etc.

An offer of grant (see below) is made to the relevant local authority on the basis of an engineering report and estimate of cost prepared by the Marine Division of the Office of Public Works and approved by the Department of Fisheries. Works are normally executed direct by the Office of Public Works under an agreement entered into with the local authority or under contract arranged by that Office. It is a condition of the grant that maintenance will be the responsibility of the local authority. Exceptionally, where works are carried out by the local authority, payment of grant is made on a certificate by the Office of Public Works that the work has been satisfactorily completed.

Scale of grants for improvement works are:

In addition the Department of Fisheries provides 100% of the cost of boring or hydrographic surveys which may be necessary before engineering reports and cost estimates can be drawn up.