Opposition is growing in north Co Dublin to controversial plans by the Dublin Port Company to sell Skerries and Balbriggan harbours.
Local people, including politicians, residents and fishermen, are to protest outside the Dáil today, saying livelihoods would be affected if the sales go ahead.
Ms Sandra O'Sullivan, spokeswoman for the Skerries Community Association, which organised a demonstration last Saturday against the sale of Skerries harbour, told The Irish Times that over 50 families involved in the fishing industry would be affected by the decision.
She said locals were furious that Skerries harbour was not being transferred to the local authority.
"Dublin Port doesn't want to put any money into the harbour and they have allowed it to go into disrepair," she claimed.
It has been estimated that the cost of restoring Skerries harbour alone could be up to two €2 million, and that the restoration of Balbriggan harbour could cost up to €8 million.
A spokesman for Fingal County Council said yesterday that the authority would be happy to take over both harbours, but the cost was too high.
He said the authority had offered to maintain and upkeep the harbours if they were handed over in good condition. But the cost of restoring them was too prohibitive.
Local fisherman Mr Ivan Wilde, who attended Saturday's demonstration at Skerries harbour, said many people depended on the harbour for their livelihood.
"Our harbour is central to the fishing ground," he said.
Mr Gerry Byrne, the commodore of Skerries Sailing Club, said it had over 400 members. "If the harbour is sold, it could be problematic for us, because if somebody else buys it we might be forbidden to use it."
Mr Byrne and other residents of Skerries are also concerned about the legality of the sale.
He said that under the 1996 Harbours Act, it was the will of the Oireachtas that Skerries harbour be controlled by Fingal County Council for the benefit of the people.
"The fact that Fingal and Dublin Port cannot agree on money does not give Dublin Port the right to fly in the face of the decision of Dáil Éireann," he said.
Dublin Port said that under section 88 of the 1996 Harbours Act, a commencement order issued by the Minister for the Environment and approved by the Minister for Communications was needed in order for the harbour to be transferred to Fingal County Council.
"In the absence of that order being issued, Dublin Port took a commercial decision to sell the harbour by public tender", said Mr Byrne.
A spokesman for the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, said he was "keenly aware" of the issue and has been in discussion with local Fianna Fáil TD Mr Jim Glennon.
"There has been dialogue between ourselves and Fingal County Council. We recognise the value of the harbour to the area; it is important to ensure there are long-term benefits to the area," Mr Cullen's spokesman said.
Mr Michael Sherary of Dublin Port has confirmed that tenders for the sale of both harbours will be issued on June 4th and that the final date for acceptance of offers is June 9th.