Vol. 478 No. 4
263 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he granted increases to the Waterford Pilotage Authority with a penalty loading against ships coming to the port of New Ross; the reason the increases in the pilotage services for ships going to Waterford amounted to 3 or 4 per cent and increases in the order of 28 per cent were granted for vessels going to New Ross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11328/97]
264 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine his views on whether the effect of the increases given to Waterford further discriminates against the port of New Ross; whether assurances were given by him to New Ross harbour commissioners that he would level the playing pitch at the time of enacting the new legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11329/97]
265 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the reason it is taking so long for the review group established by him to report on the pilotage services at Waterford and New Ross; when he will remedy the current unfair situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11330/97]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 263, 264 and 265 together.
I established the review group on pilotage in the Waterford Estuary, which first met in December 1995, to examine existing pilotage operations in the estuary and to make recommendations on how future operations should be carried out.
The group advised, by way of an interim report in April 1996, of the need to engage expert consultants to assist in their work. The consultants' report became available in January 1997 and is currently being considered by the review group.
The recommendations of the review group, on which representatives of both the New Ross Harbour Company and Waterford Harbour Commissioners sit, will represent a consensus view as to how pilotage in the Waterford Estuary should be organised in the future. I expect to obtain their recommendations in the near future.
Approval for an increase in pilotage rates was granted to Waterford Pilotage Authority by the Department of the Marine in April 1997 to address the difficult trading position of the authority.The matter of any inequity in the charging structure is expected to be satisfactorily addressed on implementation of the review group's recommendations.
