Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 2

Written Answers. - Container Freight Traffic.

Ivan Yates

Question:

82 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the level of container freight traffic originating from or destined for the Republic of Ireland which is operating through the Northern corridor; if he will commission a study into this situation in order to develop recommendations to strengthen the position of the central corridor; and if he will outline the proposals, if any, he has to restore further trade to the central corridor, given that there are estimates of some £56 million of loss of revenue to the Republic because of this diverted traffic.

Minister for the Marine (Dr. Woods)

I am aware that a proportion of our ro-ro traffic is using the Northern corridor to reach destinations in the UK. That point was made recently, for example, by the report of the Industrial Policy Review Group: A Time For Change: Industrial Policy for the 1990s.

Through the Operational Programme on Peripherality the Government, in conjunction with the EC Commission, are helping to fund port developments including a ro-ro terminal project at Dublin Port.

That development, in conjunction with the reorganisation of Dublin Port's dock labour arrangements, will help bring back a proportion of the ro-ro traffic using Northern Ireland ports which would be better served by a cheaper and more efficient central corridor operation.

In conjunction with the above developments I hope shortly to be considering the report of the review group set up to examine and make recommendations on commercial harbours and pilotage policy and legislation.

I expect that more commercially orientated port structures will result from that review.

I am satisfied that Dublin Port's and Dún Laoghaire Harbour's development plans will gradually win back much of the trade currently being shipped to the UK via the Northern corridor.