Vol. 416 No. 3
11 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine if he intends to pursue any new initiatives at EC level with a view to utilisation of EC funds to carry out improvements to harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An investment programme in commercial ports covering the years 1989 to 1993 and costing approximately £69 million is under way at present. These investments are being funded in part by the EC through the Operational Programme on Peripherality. The programme is assisting projects at the ports of Cork, Dublin, Rosslare and Waterford and at seven other important local ports. The Operational Programme on Peripherality provides that harbour authorities can receive EC aid of up to 50 per cent of their approved project costs.
The current investment programme will help our key ports to offset the effects of Ireland's peripheral location so that our exporters and importers do not suffer competitive disadvantages in relation to their European counterparts. It will also ensure that Ireland has sufficient port facilities and services to meet the anticipated increase in trade following completion of the Single Market.
Before the end of 1993 I am hopeful that the Cohesion Fund as agreed at Maastricht will be operational and will provide additional funding for ports. In that context I will shortly be inviting the harbour authorities to prepare plans for further development in the context of the post Maastricht situation.
I also propose to review the fishery harbour development requirements in this context. Post-1993 I am hopeful that Structural/Cohesion Funds will support even greater investment in ports and harbours.
Could the Minister tell the House the extent to which the proposed allocation will be able to meet the requirements set out and submitted to his Department by various local authorities, fisheries authorities and port and harbour authorities?
For commercial ports a good deal of further development could still take place. What is already happening under the existing programme constitutes substantial change and will have a major impact, but there is a great deal of further work to be done. Unfortunately, development that is taking place in several of our ports also involves harbour improvement, which makes an extra demand on funds and on the grants that will be available through both the Structural and the Cohesion Funds. I believe that there is a great deal of work to be done in that area, that we can use as much money as we get, and that there is great scope for development.
As there is a 50 per cent grant available for the development of harbours by harbour authorities, does the Minister propose to establish a proper harbour authority for Dún Laoghaire, which would replace the interim harbour board that presently exists, in order to avail of the investment, particularly in view of the fact that private funds are available to develop the ferry terminal which is so badly needed in Dún Laoghaire? As the Minister has given a commitment that he will not move the ferry from Dún Laoghaire, could he say whether he intends to establish a harbour authority?
Dún Laoghaire is a very special matter and a separate question, Deputy.
It is a very special place as well.
There is a report coming out quite shortly.
We are all waiting with bated breath.
There should be a question tabled on this subject.
I have already tabled the question. With your indulgence, a Cheann Comhairle, I did table a question on 24 January. Yesterday I received a letter stating that my question was ruled out of order because a written question was answered on 18 February. I have given the information to the Clerk for investigation. That procedure should not have occurred. In view of that, I should like to ask the Minister to reply to my supplementary question.
That does not make the Deputy in order now. My office will be glad to facilitate the Deputy with a proper question, but the issue does not arise now on this general matter.
But it does.
The Deputy may be assured that I have noted his concern and his interest. It is a matter that I consider to be important and I shall give it attention.
Would the Minister not agree that the 50 per cent level of EC grant to harbour authorities puts a great strain on the finances of authorities, in that there is no finance available other than from the authorities commercial activity in harbours? Perhaps the Minister would consider the possibility of increasing the level of grant to 75 per cent, as is received by local authorities from the EC Structural Fund for road construction. Does the Minister not agree that harbour authorities and local authorities should receive the same level of grant aid for similar construction work?
I am sure that the Deputy will realise from what I have been saying that I feel very much that way about the issue myself in that there is a great deal of work to be done, that the work being done is having a tremendous effect and that it is increasing the capacity of ports to create jobs within the port area itself and to assist in job creation much further throughout the country. I have already begun an attempt to gain a 75 per cent grant on the grounds that Irish ports have suffered from a lack of investment for a long time, that the operational programme has been very successful in redressing the neglect in investment and that Northern Ireland ports, which are in competition with Southern ports, do get grants of up to 75 per cent. I shall make a very strong case along those lines. I consider the case to be very important and I accept the point made by the Deputy.
