Vol. 440 No. 4
227 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine in view of the review of the National Development Plan, 1994-99, the amount of moneys to be received for the proposed new Waterford port development in Belview, County Kilkenny.
Work is underway in the Department preparing for the continuation of EU aid for development works at the commercial seaports. The aim of our overall strategy will be to ensure that our seaports have the capacity and quality of infrastructure to meet the trading conditions of the 21st century. To achieve this a comprehensive port development programme, in respect of the years 1994 to 1999, is included in the National Development Plan.
In so far as port projects are concerned, the Department has identified portal requirements and is now in the process of identifying projects to meet those requirements. This process will be concluded as soon as possible. Final proposals will then have to be submitted to the EU for approval. Officials of the Department will be in touch with Waterford Harbour Commissioners and all those who submitted port projects for consideration in the near future.
