Written Answers. - Dublin Ports Development.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:
15
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for the Marine
if he will give an assurance that the proposal for a new car ferry terminal at Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, which is included in the report of the Interim Harbour Board, will be included in the Government's plans for EC structural funding 1993-97.
Ivan Yates
Question:
39
Mr. Yates
asked the
Minister for the Marine
if he will give details of the total cost of the development proposals that have been submitted by the ports of Dún Laoghaire and Dublin, and if the Government have formulated any view on the privatisation of these developments.
I intend to take Questions Nos. 15 and 39 together.
To begin let me state categorically that I have no plans to transfer the ferry port of Dún Laoghaire to Dublin Port. The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Development Plan is being finalised at present by the Interim Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board. This will be of assistance to me in considering the alternatives available in Dublin Bay for the development of berthage and terminal facilities in the future.
I am, of course, aware that Dublin Port has an indicative proposal to develop a unified passenger ferry terminal in the latest update of its current five year development plan. No particular proposal for such a development has, however, been submitted to my Department and Dublin Port has no immediate plans to undertake such a development.
Any proposals for the development of passenger terminal facilities in Dublin Bay would, given their likely start-up dates, most probably fall to be considered for EC funding in the context of a future Operational Programme on Peripherality covering the years 1994 to 1997.
The Government have not considered any proposals in relation to the privatisation of facilities at Dún Laoghaire harbour and have no plans to do so. When the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Development Plan has been finalised its proposals for Dún Laoghaire harbour will be considered in detail by my Department and in due course by the Government. I have not yet a final cost for the interim board's development proposals and I do not wish at this time to anticipate the likely total cost of their plans.
Any proposals for the privatisation of facilities at Dublin Port would in the first instance be a matter for the Dublin Port and Docks Board.
Dublin Port's capital development programme covering the period 1989 to 1993 lists projects with a total cost of over £27 million. At present projects with an estimated cost of over £14 million are being assisted through the current Operational Programme on Peripherality covering the period 1989 to 1993. Should the port wish to develop any additional facilities, its proposals will be considered for funding under the current operational programme, subject to availability of funds.
