asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals for the improvement of Irish ports and harbours which have been submitted by the Government for EC funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Port and Harbour Improvements.
7.
In determining the investment programme for commercial ports, the Government have decided that the major priority must be to ensure that there is appropriate port capacity and quality port infrastructure strategically located in relation to the main internal transport arteries. More specifically, the investment programme for ports has been determined on the basis of two overriding considerations as follows:
(1) Investment in ports which are essential for the efficient and economic movement of export goods and the import of raw material for manufacturing;
(2) essential preservation and development work at certain ports so that they can retain their existing capacity and employment and satisfy regional needs.
Paragraph 3.1.35 of the National Development Plan 1989-1993 indicates that expenditure will be concentrated particularly on Dublin, Rosslare, Waterford and Cork ports.
Subject to approval of the peripherality programme by the EC a total investment of approximately £60 million in commercial ports is proposed during the period of the plan.
With regard to fishery harbours, it is the policy of my Department to cater for the needs of the Irish fishing fleet by the development and improvement of a three-tier harbour system comprising:
(a) five fishery harbour centres, owned and managed by the Department, at Killybegs, Rossaveel, Castle-townbere, Dunmore, East and Howth. In 1987 these five ports accounted for landings of over 150,000 tonnes valued at £36 million;
(b) a number of strategically located other major harbours at which significant catches are landed, such as Greencastle, County Donegal — landings in 1987 of 3,500 tonnes valued at £2.6 million — where a major development scheme is under way, and
(c) a number of secondary and smaller harbours and piers catering for fleet needs which cannot be satisfied elsewhere because of congestion at the larger harbours or because of proximity to valuable fishing grounds or large mariculture sites.
For the rational development of an adequate infrastructure for the industrious fishing fleet, proposals have been submitted to the EC for a programme of fishery harbour development with an estimated expenditure of £17 million over the next four years.
I thank the Minister for his reply, but let me refer him to the paragraph subsequent to the one he referred to in the national plan, namely 3.1.36, where there is a commitment from the Government to invest £72 million in the commercial ports, not £60 million as he has advanced now, provided the approval of Brussels is forthcoming. Does this represent a diminution in the investment? Does the Minister agree that in Single Market conditions the state of our ports and their ability to handle the extent of our trade will be more important than ever and, currently, that the figures are 80 per cent in volume terms and 65 per cent in value terms? Finally, is Dún Laoghaire excluded and are the berthing facilities for the passenger service on which the continuation of the passenger ferry may well depend entirely excluded?
There has been a diminution. The funds being made available are less but, as the House will see from the statistic I have given, there is still a very substantial investment and it will go far to support the objective, namely of having proper harbour facilities, and it will be up to the Minister for the Environment to provide roads and to CIE to provide rail service to the port. The actual amount of investment will go a long way to doing what we want to do. I agree with the Deputy. When I was in the Department of Transport we did a great deal of study and gave much thought to the problem of ports and, with the channel tunnel in the background, we were concentrating very heavily on getting the maximum facilities for our ports.
Dún Laoghaire is a separate matter. The House will know that I promised an interim harbour board. I am in the process of consulting people whom I want to act on it. I will be announcing its members tomorrow and I will be getting advice from that interim harbour authority with regard to the development of Dún Laoghaire and, of course, the report, of which the Deputy is aware, of the committee chaired by Professor McAleese. The distilled wisdom of that committee is also available to me as will be whatever input both Dún Laoghaire Corporation and the members of the interim harbour board will be able to provide me with.
Will the Minister give a breakdown on the £60 million he mentioned in his first reply in relation to port development? In relation to essential development works being carried out at the ports, in his previous decision to designate ports as Euro-ports why was Cork port excluded from that designation, especially in view of the large investment that has been made by local interests in the development of the port to date?
I think there is a separate question down about that.
We will never get to it.
If there is, it must not arise now.
My first question was in relation to the £60 million breakdown.
I have not got the breakdown with me but I will provide the Deputy with the details.
I am sure the Minister is aware that to date £13 million has been spent on Howth harbour development, but one major facility has been left out there, that is the fish auction hall. Will the new scheme provide for moneys to provide a fish auction hall at Howth?
That is a separate matter.
I cannot give the detail to Deputy Cosgrave but I am aware of the investment already and I know there are questions down about Howth later today. We have been trying to provide all the facilities for the major fishery centres and Howth, as I have said, is a major fishery centre with regard to ice, auction halls, etc.
Will the Minister agree that after 1992 our successes in economy will depend largely on the fine port facilities we have? Can he, at this stage, advise the House, in relation to the submission made to Europe, if the ring road around Dublin will connect directly into Dublin Port? In relation to Waterford, will there be a rail connection from the existing harbour back to the proposed new development west of the existing port in Waterford? What exact proposals have been sent by Government for development of the Shannon Estuary?
One part of the Deputy's supplementary should be addressed to the Minister for the Environment, with regard to the ring road, and another part to the Minister for Tourism and Transport, with regard to the rail at Waterford.
Leaning on his wisdom, I know the Minister has the answer.
I do not want to put my foot in it or those two Ministers would have my throat slit from ear to ear. I have not got that information.
The Minister indicated the ports that will be getting priority for EC assistance. Will Foynes be included for that EC assistance?
Foynes may be included for assistance. Again I think there is a question about that further down. I am being got at about Foynes. The major ones that were chosen were the ones I mentioned, Dublin, Rosslare, Waterford and Cork. I know Foynes makes a profit and is catering for very big ships at the moment and there are plans for it.
I want to call Deputy Rabbitte for a final question. I have dwelt over-long on this question. I want to make some progress on other questions also.
I want to elicit the reason for the diminution of the amount from that set out in the national plan, of a total of £72 million, down to £60 million now, and whether this is due to a shortfall in the amount originally expected from Europe.
It simply came as a result of bargaining and, as the Deputy will know, in Ballinrobe long ago, we made a demand, we were made a bid and we got the bid increased as far as we possibly could. The increased amount did not reach what we originally demanded, but I am sure the Deputy knows what used to happen at fairs.