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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Nov 1966

Vol. 225 No. 1

Written Answers. - Port Development.

140.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power the details of the projected expenditure from public funds under existing programmes for the ports of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.

I am aware that the port authorities at Dublin and Cork propose to undertake large scale development schemes over the next few years. No proposals involving borrowing or State grants have been made to me in respect of these schemes. I am not, therefore, in a position to give any details about the proposals, other than those published in the Press. According to these reports, the Dublin scheme will involve an expenditure of £2½ million and Cork an expenditure of £2 million.

The port authorities at Limerick and Waterford have applied for substantial State aid for major improvement schemes. These applications are under examination in conjunction with the authorities concerned. I am not, therefore, at this stage, in a position to give the information requested.

The provision of capital grants will, of course, be considered in connection with the Capital Budget.

141.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power what plans, if any, with financial details, are in progress or projected for port development from (a) local funds and (b) national funds in Galway, Arklow, Wicklow, Drogheda, and Dundalk.

A scheme at Galway consisting mainly of linking two docks to form a unified dock system has been practically completed. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at £430,000 including a State grant of £360,000.

In Wicklow, an improvement scheme consisting mainly of reconstruction of the East Pier has been virtually completed. The total estimated cost is £120,000 including a State grant of £90,000.

A hydraulic model investigation costing about £20,000, which is being conducted with aid of a full State grant by the harbour authority at Arklow to determine the best means of dealing with siltation at this port, is expected to be completed shortly.

A state grant of 50 per cent subject to a maximum of £175,000 was authorised in 1960 towards the cost of a comprehensive harbour improvement scheme at Drogheda. Pending the results of a hydraulic model investigation to determine the best means of solving the dredging problem, plans and cost of the scheme cannot be finalised. A sum of £83,200 has been paid from the grant towards the cost of portion of the scheme including a contribution towards the cost of the port dredger and certain reconstruction work.

I am not aware of any port improvement works in progress or projected at Dundalk Harbour.

142.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power what proportion of the total national capital expenditure has been devoted in the ten years 1956 to 1965 to, and is at present projected for port development; and what proportion of total national capital expenditure was devoted in the same period to port development in Denmark, Spain, Portugal and Norway.

Information as to expenditure by other Departments, and other bodies and private interests on port development within the last ten years is not available in my Department. During this period £2,083,053 was made available from grants administered by my Department for development of harbours scheduled under the Harbours Act, 1946.

In the current year, 1966-67, the total capital expenditure on development of scheduled harbours is estimated at £516,000 out of a total estimate of £97.78m. for public capital expenditure. Estimates of expenditure for 1967-68 are not yet finalised.

I have no information in regard to expenditure on port development by the other countries mentioned.

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