Wicklow County Council will assume management of Arklow Harbor at the beginning of the New Year.
Following the transfer to the council, the Arklow Harbor Commission set up in 1890, will be dissolved in January 2012.
Arklow councilors Pat Fitzgerald and Nicky Cullen stated that they support this decision reached by the current government.
Cllr. Kelly has also encouraged the transfer, however he demanded a guarantee that the government will compensate and underwrite any costs incurred by the transfer.
The council will be provided with the money to discharge any liability involved in an upcoming adjourned court case. Other resulting cases will also be covered.
Cllr. Fitzgerald stressed that the Department had obliged to provide €4 million for fundamental undertakings as well as for the necessary dredging.
Director of Services, Sean Quirke said that although a great deal of money had been spent the harbor reached the standard of no longer being safe.
[mappress] Dredging Today Staff, December 9, 2011;