Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Harbours and Piers.

Enda Kenny

Question:

92 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the Government has agreed in principle to provide for a deep sea port in the west and north west; and the arrangements, if any, being put in place to implement this proposal. [10640/98]

Enda Kenny

Question:

93 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the investigative and consultative work carried out by his Department in the context of providing a deep sea port in the west and north west region; the conclusions, if any, he has drawn from this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10641/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr Woods)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together.

In November 1994, my Department contributed £5,000 to the Ballina Industrial and Development Association and Killala Community Council towards the cost of carrying out an economic and feasibility study, undertaken by a firm of consultant engineers, McCarthy and Partners, of proposed deep water berthing facilities at Ross Point, Killala, County Mayo. This study was a follow on to earlier studies carried out in 1978 and again in 1983 by McCarthy and Partners.

As the Deputy will appreciate it is essential that any investment decisions in relation to the Ross Point proposal be well grounded and have full regard to the findings of this exhaustive assessment. Undoubtedly the attractions of the region and proposed jetty to industry, as outlined in the conclusions of the report prepared by McCarthy and Partners, are easily recognised.

Given the strenuous competition for investment in port infrastructure, I draw the Deputy's attention to the conclusions arrived at in the report. In particular recommendation 10.11 which states that ". ..taking fully into consideration the existing and the likely future demands for jetty facilities from the indigenous industrial and fisheries concerns, it is nevertheless considered unrealistic to proceed with the construction of a jetty at Rathfran Bay before a commitment has been received from a suitable new "anchor" industry".

Such an "anchor" industry would have to be sufficiently large to warrant the capital expenditure on jetty construction and onshore access and ideally have requirements for deep sea berthage and necessary support structures.

It is acknowledged that existing industries in the region — including Asahi at the time of the study — did express a willingness to make use of jetty facilities. However, it is clear that none of these concerns would make marine infrastructural development at Ross Point an economically viable proposition at present levels of demand for shipping movements.

In the broader context of funding seaport infrastructure projects, my Department received applications for grant aid under the EU Transport Operational Programme 1994-1999 from the bulk of the ports handling commercial traffic. The investment "bid" from regional ports alone was far in excess of the allocation of some £8 million EU aid provided for investment. It was therefore necessary to prioritise investment proposals.

The regional ports measure of the programme is aimed at facilitating relatively small investments to assist in preserving existing assets which will improve operational efficiencies. The provision of £8 million EU aid has been fully allocated. Also, it is pertinent to note that the proposal for the development of facilities at Ross Point, would involve an investment of nearly £10 million costed at 1995 prices.

The maintenance of adequate seaport capacity is crucial to the success of our maritime transport policy. Future infrastructural investment strategy will be the key to sustaining growth in trade through seaports. In this regard consultants, which I appointed, are about to complete an EU funded study to provide a definitive measurement and authoritative independent examination of the adequacy of national seaport traffic handling capacity to cope with current and future demand. This study is a vital step towards ensuring the development and maintenance of adequate infrastructural capacity at strategic Irish ports to cope with economic growth and to underpin future development plans to deliver that capacity.

The review addresses the long-term trends in traffic growth and will also appraise existing modes of sea and land transport, the extent of potential transfer between modes and their portal interface and current and future adequacy. Indications from the preliminary findings of the review are that there is adequate deepwater berth capacity nationally at existing ports and that future capacity demand can be met from the enhancement where appropriate of existing facilities.