East Pier Terminal
The Holyhead Ferry 1 unloads at Dun Laoghaire's East Pier terminal in 1965. Jim Bradfield Collection.
The first drive-on / drive-off car ferry service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire came in 1965 and to facilitate the Holyhead Ferry 1 extensive engineering works were carried out on both sides of the Irish Sea. At Holyhead the Mail Pier berth was modified and provided with a linkspan but at Dun Laoghaire things were not so straightforward and a temporary berth on the East Pier had to be constructed while plans for a more permanent solution were discussed.
The announcement of the new service by Mr HC Johnson, Chairman of the London Midland Region of British Rail, on 9th July 1963 caused an outcry at Dun Laoghaire where the new terminal would force the National Yacht Club to move from its premises near the East Pier. After five months of arguing the Irish Government finally announced that the terminal should be constructed other than at the East Pier. However, until the final site for the new terminal could be agreed a temporary terminal was built at the East Pier site.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 205 - 24 October, 1963
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Ferry Service at Dún
Laoghaire.
Mr. Cosgrave
8. Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Transport and Power, what is the
present position about the proposed car-ferry service at Dún Laoghaire,
County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers) Erskine Hamilton
Childers
Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers): British Railways have
announced their intention of operating a car-ferry service between
Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire, commencing in May, 1965. I have undertaken
that the necessary terminal facilities will be provided in good time at
Dún Laoghaire harbour. The question of the siting of the terminal has
been under careful examination. The most readily available satisfactory
site for such a terminal would be at the East Pier. The possibility of
using other sites is also under examination. The matter has been the
subject of discussion with representatives of the Dún Laoghaire
Corporation, but no final decision in the matter has yet been taken.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 205 - 13 November, 1963
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry
Terminal.
Dr. Browne
24. Dr. Browne asked the Minister for Transport and Power what is the
present position regarding the proposal to build a terminal for a car
ferry service at Dún Laoghaire; whether the amenities at present enjoyed
by the public on the seawall will be interfered with; and what proposals
are to be made for the rehousing of the National Yacht Club should the
terminal make the present premises and moorings no longer available.
Mr. Childers
Mr. Childers: I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by me to a
previous similar question on 24th October last. The matter is still
under examination and I am not yet in a position to indicate the final
decision. I hope to be able to do so shortly.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 206 - 10 December, 1963
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry Terminal.
Mr. O'Keeffe
35. Mr. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he
is yet in a position to indicate the final decision regarding the
building of a terminal for a car ferry service at Dún Laoghaire; and, if
so, if he will indicate its nature.
Dr. Browne
36. Dr. Browne asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will
make a further statement with regard to the provision of a car ferry
terminal at Dún Laoghaire.
Mr. Booth
37. Mr. Booth asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether a final
decision has yet been reached as to the siting of the terminal for the
proposed car-ferry service at Dún Laoghaire; and whether full account
has been taken of the injustice of forcing the National Yacht Club to
vacate their present premises and moorings, and of the need to provide
an adequate road system to cater for the additional traffic.
Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers) Erskine Hamilton
Childers
Minister for Transport and Power (Mr. Childers): I propose, with your
permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 35, 36 and 37
together.
The Government have decided that the permanent Irish terminal for the
proposed British Railways car ferry from Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire
should be constructed at a site other [793] than the East Pier.
Investigations will be carried out by the Office of Public Works to
determine the suitability of St. Michael's Wharf for the purpose and
also the possibility of some other alternative suitable sites being
available in the harbour.
The ferry service is scheduled to commence in May, 1965. It would not be
possible to have a permanent terminal sufficiently advanced before that
date at any site other than the East Pier. Temporary facilities not
involving reclamation of the seabed or interference with yachting
facilities will have to be provided in the interim period at the East
Pier.
Dr. Browne
Dr. Browne: What does the Minister mean by the interim period? Has he
any idea how long that may be?
Mr. Childers
Mr. Childers: Until the Commissioners for Public Works have made a final decision on the site, it would be impossible for me to say, but I should think it will be about two or three years.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 208 - 12 March, 1964
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry Service.
Mr. Cosgrave
27. Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Finance when work will commence
on the proposed car ferry service at Dún Laoghaire.
Mr. O'Malley
Mr. O'Malley: The work necessary for the temporary car ferry terminal at
the East Pier consists of dredging, the construction of a wharf and
dolphins with a mechanically operated ramp, the buildings to accommodate
passengers etc. The dredging work is in progress and tenders for the
wharf and dolphins received this week are being considered. That work
will start soon and be followed by the provision of [929] the ramp and
buildings. The aim is to have these temporary facilities ready for the
commencement of the ferry service in May, 1965.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 209 - 28 April, 1964
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry Service.
Mr. Booth
20. Mr. Booth asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he
accepts that the proposed car-ferry service from Dún Laoghaire to
Holyhead will be of national importance so far as tourist promotion is
concerned; and whether he will now reconsider the request for some
considerable financial contribution from Dún Laoghaire Corporation
towards the cost of the terminal installation.
Mr. J. Lynch
Mr. J. Lynch: The proposed car ferry service will be of national
importance to the tourist industry, but it will have special
significance for Dún Laoghaire only if the terminal is located there.
The most readily available and satisfactory site in Dún Laoghaire
harbour from the navigational, economic and operational points of view
for the permanent car ferry terminal would be at the East Pier. In
response, however, to the strong representations of Dún Laoghaire
Corporation and other local interests that the selection of that site
would seriously interfere with local amenities, the Government decided
not to locate the permanent terminal there. In view of the fact that it
was estimated that the choice of a site other than the East Pier would
increase the cost of the terminal by about £130,000, the Government also
decided that Dún Laoghaire Corporation should be asked to meet the extra
cost. The Corporation agreed to review the matter when the position in
regard to the permanent terminal had been finally determined and in the
circumstances I see no [470] reason to reconsider the request made to
them.
Further examination has indicated that a full investigation of other
possible sites in Dún Laoghaire Harbour would involve a delay of nearly
two years. This would mean that a permanent terminal could not be
provided earlier than 1968 and that the East Pier would have to be used
as a temporary terminal until then. On the other hand it has been
confirmed that the St. Michael's Wharf site offers adequate facilities
to meet the traffic in the foreseeable future. In the circumstances, it
has been decided to proceed with the construction of the permanent
terminal at St. Michael's Wharf. It is hoped that the permanent terminal
will be usable by 1966. The East Pier will then be fully restored as
quickly as possible to its original condition and use.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 209 - 05 May, 1964
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car-Ferry Service.
Mr. Cosgrave
26.
Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware
that, while the proposal to establish the car-ferry service in Dún
Laoghaire is welcomed, there is considerable concern at the effect this
proposal will have on the amenities at Dún Laoghaire harbour; if he will
ensure that permanent or temporary ferry service facilities will not
interfere with the amenities; and if he will also arrange that any
development work will be carried out in consultation with the Dún
Laoghaire Corporation.
Mr. Childers
Mr. Childers: The provision of an interim car ferry terminal at the East
Pier will interfere temporarily with the [933] amenities of portion of
the lower deck of the pier and with yacht mooring facilities. This
interference is inevitable because the East Pier is the only site in Dún
Laoghaire Harbour where the temporary facilities can be got ready in
time for the commencement of the car-ferry service in May, 1965. As I
have indicated on a number of occasions, the pier will be restored to
its original condition and use when the permanent terminal is ready.
I announced in reply to a Dáil Question on 28th April last that the
permanent terminal will be located at St. Michael's Wharf and it is
hoped to have it usable by 1966. This site was chosen to obviate
interference with local amenities.
The completion of the works at both sites will still permit the
provision of yacht moorings in the harbour to the same extent as a
present.
Dún Laoghaire Corporation are being consulted at every stage of the
planning of the temporary and permanent car-ferry terminals.
Mr. Cosgrave
Mr. Cosgrave: Is the Minister in a position to say what the cost of the
temporary terminal will be? Is it a fact that it is suggested by his
Department that the cost should be borne by the Dún Laoghaire
ratepayers?
Mr. Childers
Mr. Childers: The Government decided that Dún Laoghaire Corporation
should be asked to make a contribution towards the construction of the
pier and the provision of temporary facilities owing to the fact that it
should increase very largely the number of persons staying in Dún
Laoghaire. Certainly, having regard to the fact that when the ferry is
running at full stretch, the first vessel will leave at 6.15 a.m. and
the last at 11.45 p.m., it should offer an ideal opportunity to the Dún
Laoghaire Tourist Association to encourage people to stay there to see
Dublin, to take advantage of the amenities there or spend some time
there on their way through to other parts of the country. The extra cost
of the temporary facilities will be roughly £100,000, of which £25,000
will be recoverable.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 221 - 22 March, 1966
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry.
Dr. O'Connell
9. Dr. O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total
cost of the car ferry terminal at Dún Laoghaire and the total
contribution to it from Exchequer funds.
Minister for Industry and Commerce (Dr. Hillery) (for the Minister
for Transport and Power) Patrick J. Hillery
Minister for Industry and Commerce (Dr. Hillery) (for the Minister for
Transport and Power): The estimated cost of the temporary terminal at
the East Pier is £143,500 but equipment and material to the value of
£25,000 can be salvaged for use in the permanent terminal, which is now
under construction at St. Michael's Wharf. The total cost of the
terminals, estimated at £925,000, will be borne by the Exchequer.
The Holyhead Ferry 1 alongside the East Pier.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 241 - 08 July, 1969
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry Structure.
Mr. Desmond
52. Mr. Desmond asked the Minister for Transport and Power his
Department's intentions concerning the future use of the original car
ferry structure at Dún Laoghaire harbour.
Mr. B. Lenihan
Mr. B. Lenihan: When announcing the selection of St. Michael's Wharf Dún
Laoghaire as the site for the permanent car ferry terminal my
predecessor indicated that the East Pier [185] would be restored to its
original condition as quickly as possible after the service was
transferred to the new terminal. This is still the intention but it is
proposed to defer action until the new terminal has been satisfactorily
tested in operation. I expect to be able to come to a final decision on
the matter about the end of the year.
It is possible that some of the works at the East Pier such as the ramp
access to the Marine Parade may be regarded as a useful amenity and
retained.
Dr. FitzGerald
Dr. FitzGerald: That means that the Minister does not propose to restore
it to its original condition, contrary to his predecessor's assurance.
Mr. B. Lenihan
Mr. B. Lenihan: To restore it to a condition at least as good as its
previous condition. Let us not quibble.
Dáil Éireann - Volume 248 - 14 July, 1970
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dún Laoghaire Car Ferry.
Mr. Moore
24. Mr. Moore asked the Minister for Finance when the temporary car
ferry terminal will be dismantled to return the pier at Dún Laoghaire to
its [968] original form; and what is it intended to do with the
dismantled materials.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr. Lemass) Noel
T. Lemass
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr. Lemass): The
contract for the dismantling of the temporary car ferry terminal
building is almost completed. The materials of the main fabric become
the property of the contractor but the internal fittings are being
retained by the Office of Public Works for other use.
Mr. Moore
Mr. Moore: Could the Parliamentary Secretary be more explicit on the
date of commencement of the work?
Mr. Lemass
Mr. Lemass: The contract for the removal of the temporary car ferry
building was placed on 13th May, 1970. The work will be finished in
about one week's time. The clearing of the surface of the site will take
a further week. The future of the bailey bridge and of the lift is
subject to consultation with the Department of Transport and Power. It
is my intention to honour the pledge made by the previous Minister for
Transport and Power in this regard.
Dr. FitzGerald
Dr. FitzGerald: Why was the work held up until the middle of the tourist
season and not completed a month ago?
Mr. Lemass
Mr. Lemass: When surplus State property becomes available it is a
regulation that each Government Department must be consulted in order to
know whether they have use for it. Having gone through this procedure
and having had a meeting with the Department of Transport and Power,
Bord Fáilte and other interested bodies, we advertised for the sale of
the building material in the structure.