Government is ignoring the people who want a say in their harbour’s future
Kinsale Harbour Board has been in existence since 1870, under the control of the Department of the Marine in recent years and, since January 1 this year, the Department of Transport.
In June 1999 a report by KMPG, commissioned by the Department of the Marine, recommended the larger commercial ports be transferred to port companies on a ‘stand alone’ basis and the smaller ports such as Kinsale, Baltimore, etc, should have control transferred to the relevant local authority. This would mean an end to the 1946 and 1947 Harbours Act, which laid down the government legislation for the ports and which was generally felt to be in need of repeal.
Kinsale Harbour Board has nine voluntary members, each representing various interests within the port. Despite various attempts by board members, we have failed to meet with the department on the proposed restructuring of the board and ultimately the running of Kinsale port.
The department has ignored us for six and a half years, since the KMPG report was published. Meanwhile, the large ports, such as Cork, Dublin, etc, have been transferred to port companies, leaving the minnows such as Kinsale out in the cold. This has angered all nine commissioners, who have given much time and effort through the years, trying to better the harbour for everybody’s use and enjoyment.
Kinsale is unique in that it has a commercial cargo trade union, a fishing industry and an ever growing leisure industry. Income from the commercial sector helps to finance the other sectors, while the fishing industry gives valuable jobs to the town.
The commissioners run the port from year to year without funding from outside but capital expenditure, to the tune of e6m, is needed to upgrade the port.
This is the crux of the matter, which your article omitted. This capital is required for, among other projects, the construction of a fish landing facility and ice plant, the provision of a 10-acre amenity park (to cater for a rowing clubhouse, fishnet mending yard, tourist bus park, public car park and a green belt amenity park with seafront promenade), relocation of the cargo berth from the main pier, etc.
If a promise of funding was made by the Government that would secure the future of Kinsale port, I would not mind who takes over as long as local input would remain in some restructured format and that income generated in the port would remain in the port.
By ignoring the local custodians, the Government is kicking democracy in the face. Kinsale Town Council has never approached the board regarding taking control of the harbour, as per your report. Baltimore harbour remains in the same limbo-land as Kinsale harbour despite what is stated in your article.
With the recent transfer of the harbour control to the Department of Transport, the end is in sight for one of the oldest statutory bodies in the State, but the question remains to be answered by the Government - will it respect local democracy and give Kinsale people a say in their harbour’s future?
Eamonn O’Neill
Kinsale Harbour
Fishermen’s Representative
Market Street
Kinsale
Co Cork
