Breakthrough in Coal Harbour dispute

There has been a breakthrough in the row over public access to Dun Laoghaire's Coal Harbour which arose during construction of the £18 million marina.

The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, has proposed establishment of a working group to oversee the new arrangements for management of the Coal Harbour boatyard. The proposal has been made by the company's chairman, Mr Philip Lynch, in a letter to the Dun Laoghaire Labour TD and former junior marine minister, Mr Eamon Gilmore.

Many smaller boat owners who are not members of the waterfront clubs had feared loss of traditional rights and access to the public slipway when the harbour company transferred management of the Coal Harbour to the marina contractor last year.

The Coal Harbour Users' Group (CHUG), formed in protest over the transfer, had appealed to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, to intervene. However, the Minister said it was a matter for the company.

Mr Lynch has invited CHUG to participate in the working group, and it has accepted on the basis that this does not prejudice its position. A meeting hosted by CHUG in earlier this week reaffirmed a resolution passed last September that it should seek a declaration stating that the boatyard remains under public control.

The working group will report to the harbour company, which will provide required administration services, according to the chairman.

Mr Gilmore described the move as "progress", but said a lot would depend on how quickly it was established.