Bernard Allen
Question:15 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the number of meetings held by the Cork Free Port Committee; and the resources which are available to that group to carry out their responsibilities.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Free Port.
Bernard Allen
Question:36 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the developments to date at Cork Free Port carried out as a result of the legislation passed to encourage general development in the port.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 36 together.
I understand that since their establishment in January 1989 the Free Port Advisory Committee have met on eight occasions. The costs involved in marketing and promoting the Free Port are met by the IDA, Cork Harbour Commissioners and local interests.
Ringaskiddy Free Port is being vigorously promoted and marketed — this is evidenced by the fact that in 1989/90 site visits to Ringaskiddy were undertaken by a total of 65 companies. Regrettably, to date, there are only four companies and one subsidiary company operating in the Free Port.
May I ask the Minister what real resources were made available to that group? Have that group made any report to the Government or his Department? If so, what proposals or recommendations have they made, particularly in view of the fact that there has only been a success rate of four so far?
At the request of the Free Port authority we have been encouraging the Industrial Development Authority, whose duty it is to promote the Free Port area as a location for industry. As I have indicated, there have been plenty of inquiries and people have been shown the facilities both by IDA and the Free Port authority but as yet no industry has applied to my Department for a licence under section 5 of the Free Port Act, 1986.
The Minister has put his finger on the problem, that is, that no plans have materialised. Does the Minister have any plans to review the concept of the free port in Cork with a view to either allocating extra resources or giving more latitude?
I think it was made clear when the Free Ports Act was going though the House that it would not necessarily resolve all the problems of the area and that many of the free ports which were established in Britain and the United States did not result in any great improvements in Industrial development at that time. It is a question of selling the port strongly. The facilities are magnificent in that area and I have been assured by the Industrial Development Authority that they are pushing that site as competently and as industriously as they can.
As the Minister is probably aware, a similar marketing effort is being carried out in conjunction with SFADCo and the various harbour authorities in regard to the Shannon Estuary. Does the Minister have any intention either immediately or in the longer term to establish a free port along the Shannon Estuary? I am particularly concerned about Foynes.
That is a separate matter worthy of a separate question.