asked the Minister for Transport and Power when it is hoped to have a report from Wallingford Station, England on the feasibility of the extension of Rosslare Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare Harbour Development.
10.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if moneys are available for the development of Rosslare Harbour; and when the project will start.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
I am informed by CIE that the working model of Rosslare Harbour is now complete and tests are being conducted at the Hydraulics Research Station, Wallingford, from which a final report is expected early in January, 1977. The report will then be assessed by my technical advisers.
A decision has not yet been taken on how the project, if feasible, might be financed. The matter cannot be fully considered until certain legal aspects have been clarified and until a firm proposal for the project is formulated following examination of the report from the hydraulics research station.
In my second question I asked if moneys are available for this work on the lines of the Wallingford report, if that scheme is successful.
I understand the evidence has yet to be clarified. There are certain proposals but it has not yet been established (a) whether the scheme is actually feasible, (b) whether certain legal difficulties can be overcome and (c) where exactly the project will be financed from. The first thing that has to be settled clearly before anything else can be decided is the actual feasibility. I imagine firm decisions in relation to financing are naturally being deferred pending the results of the feasibility study. As I said, the final report from Wallingford is expected early in January.
As I understand it, Wallingford were asked to deal with coast erosion and their model was based on dealing with coast erosion. Is it not a fact that the Coode report covered that aspect and basically all they are asked to do in Wallingford is related to the question of the safety of ships in the harbour.
My understanding is that that is not the only matter involved. The Deputy appreciates this is quite a complex matter and coast erosion is only one of the problems that have to be covered in the feasibility study.