The Government has decided to keep Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours in public ownership by signing them over to Fingal County Council.
The Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, has signed an order implementing Section 84 (4) of the Harbours Act 1996, transferring the harbours to Fingal County Council.
Labour Party deputy for Dublin North, Mr Sean Ryan, hailed the decision as a "significant victory for the people of North Dublin."
Commenting on the announcement, Fianna Fail deputy for Dublin North also welcomed the intervention by the Minister to ensure that the harbours stay in public ownership.
Skerries Community Association and Skerries Sailing Club spearheaded a public campaign to ensure that the working harbours were not privatised. Dublin Port had initiated a tender procedure to sell off the harbours last March on the basis that they represented a drain on revenue.