Austin Deasy
Question:154 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will assure Dáil Éireann that a car ferry service will operate between Cork and the South Wales region in the 1993 tourist season.
Written Answers. - Cork-South Wales Ferry Service.
The Government fully supports the maintenance and development of ferry services in the interests of trade and tourism. However, the decision to operate services on particular routes is a commercial decision for individual ferry operators. Similarly, decisions as regards the future of individual companies is a matter for the owners of those companies to decide.
I would remind the Deputy that Exchequer assistance was made available to Swansea Cork Ferries Limited in 1987, 1988 and 1990, as well as an offer of assistance in 1989 which was not taken up by the company. The Government has, therefore, done all it can reasonably be expected to do in assisting the establishment of a Cork Swansea service.
Swansea Cork Ferries Limited were informed in 1990 that the Government had decided that no further Exchequer assistance would be available to the company from 1990 onwards. There is no change in that position. I am pleased that the Cork Swansea ferry service has operated with commercial success both in 1991 and the current year without Exchequer subvention.