Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - River Suir (Waterford) Bridge.

Mr. Hogan

The south-east is a pivotal location mainly through the existence of three ports in the region — New Ross, Rosslare and Waterford. The major development currently being undertaken by the Waterford Harbour Commissioners at Belview, County Kilkenny, will further enhance this role. It is therefore desirable to co-ordinate the needs of the region with that of the rest of the country. The Irish roads plan currently being proposed does not give recognition to the fact that the south-east ports are the principal means for the transportation of goods to mainland Europe. There is an urgency about giving clear recognition to all routes linking Waterford port, which will become the premier port in the country following the completion of the Belview development.

In order to get traffic through Waterford city quickly to Waterford Port and Rosslare Port, it is essential that a high level bridge be constructed across the River Suir. It is totally unacceptable to the citizens of Waterford and south Kilkenny that all the core traffic that will result from this new development will make their lives a misery. In addition, the creation of a bypass north of Waterford city through Newrath is currently required as part of the existing road structure. As a representative of Kilkenny County Council, I can confirm that the development of a new river crossing for Waterford has the full support of that local authority. I hope the Minister for Finance and the Government take this unique opportunity, with the advance of the Cohesion Fund and future Structural Funds, to put this integrated road plan in place not only for the benefit of Waterford and south Kilkenny but for the benefit of the country and the south-east region in particular.

Mr. Cullen

In the time allocated to me I want to make a number of specific points to the Minister. First, this is the only specific project included in the sub-regional review committee's submission to Government. It is supported by all counties and it is the only named project in that submission.

Second, it is not a question of this being a local issue. This is a national issue, because the port being built at Belview in Waterford is designated, both at a European and Irish level, as Ireland's premier lo-lo port of access to Europe. Thirty per cent of all the goods leaving lo-lo ports here at present leave from the existing old port upriver. By the time this new port reaches its full potential, 48 per cent of the traffic will be leaving from this area. As the Minister is aware — I know he has been to Waterford — the problem is that, there is only one river crossing and it is in the city. The Euro-route from Rosslare begins at the bridge in Waterford and winds down through the inner city. The access to the port is at present carrying flammables, solids, liquids as well as toxic and corrosive substances and oxidising agents. I am sure the House would agree that that is totally unacceptable. If something is not done about it, we are facing very serious problems should an accident occur because of those substances being carried through a major built-up area.

Third, the port being established at Belview is already ahead of schedule: a new bulk terminal port is now commencing and the contracts were awarded in the past week. That port will also be operational before the end of this year.

The application to build a high level bridge over the River Suir in the city of Waterford goes back to the sixties. When 14 or 15 years old, I remember looking at plans for the bridge. This is the last chance the Government has, in view of the upcoming tranche of Structural Funds, to put in place a facility that is in the national and economic interest of this country. There is no point in this Government, and the European Commission, accepting that that is to be the premier port if they are not going to put in place the supporting infrastructural network which is required to move goods and services from all over the country to the port at Belview. If the Minister does not do that, then the planning which has gone on within his Department, the Department of the Marine and at EC level, will all be for nought and chaos will reign in terms of access to that port.

The Minister should tell us his views on access transport to that port. Would he agree with the subregional review committee's submission that the central plank of that is the construction of a high level bridge which will bypass the city of Waterford?

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The submissions from the sub-regional review committees and those from the social partners and other groups and bodies are at present being examined. I am aware of the recommendation in the sub-regional report for a new high level bridge in Waterford. The bridge in question was the subject of a bridge order application by Waterford Corporation in the seventies.

In 1979, Waterford Corporation was advised that the application could not be progressed until information was made available about the acquisition of property that would be required for the construction of the bridge and associated approach roads. It was also suggested to the local authority that the planned replacement of Redmond Bridge, which had become hazardous, would afford an opportunity to review the implications of a high level bridge proposal, particularly in relation to environmental and financial aspects and current and future traffic requirements. The information which would need to be available for presentation at a bridge order inquiry has not yet been furnished by the local authority. At this stage the proposal would also require a formal environmental impact statement.

In view of the extensive programme of road improvements which have been carried out in the area in the meantime, including in particular the new Rice Bridge, which replaced the old Redmond Bridge, and also the new dual carriageways at Ferrybank and Dock Road and improvements to the Quay and Manor Street, any proposal for the provision of a further bridge would have to be examined very closely in relation to the likely costs, benefits and environmental issues arising from it. I have no proposals at this stage for the provision of grants to meet the cost of a new high level bridge in Waterford.