Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 7

Written Answers. - Port Development Projects.

John Bruton

Question:

92 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Marine the policy basis upon which a decision was taken that all port development projects undertaken to the east of a line drawn from Lough Foyle to the Old Head of Kinsale should receive a maximum rate of grant aid of 50 per cent, rather than 75 per cent applying in the rest of the country; if this was based on economic or social considerations; its relationship to the pattern of demand for port facilities in the areas in question; whether this distinction will continue under the Structural Funds programme for the period 1994-1999; and the impact of this distinction on the amount and likelihood of assistance for the development of a new port at Mornington, County Meath.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. G. O'Sullivan)

The policy of differing levels of grant aid in areas to the east and west of a line drawn from Lough Foyle to the Old Head of Kinsale applies to grant aid provided in respect of development projects undertaken in the fisheries interest at non-State owned harbours.

This policy is a long standing one. I believe that the policy is out-dated and does not reflect the capacity of the various maritime local authorities to contribute to the costs of such development projects. In view of this, the matter is currently being reviewed in relation to the Fishery Harbour Development Programme for the 1994 through 1999 period and in this regard preliminary discussions have taken place between the Departments of the Marine, Finance and Environment.

In regard to the commercial port at Mornington, Co. Louth, Drogheda Harbour Commissioners have applied for 75 per cent EC aid under the next round of Structural Funds towards the cost of the construction of a new deepwater port facility. The current maximum EC aid level for commercial seaports under the Operational Programme on Peripherality is 50 per cent. The Commissioners' application is being assessed at present along with numerous other projects received from harbour authorities and private promoters with a view to constructing an integrated and strategic investment plan for our commercial seaports. It will not be possible to make final decisions on any of the projects submitted, or the EC aid rate to be granted, until such time as the commercial seaports allocation under the next round of Structural Funds has been determined.