Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Written Answers. - Port Development.

Michael Bell

Question:

49 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the finance planned by his Department for the development of each commercial and fishing port; the proposed allocation and work in each port; the source of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16006/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

My Department is responsible for overseeing the allocation of EU funding under seaports' measures for the Operational Programme for Transport, the Ireland Wales Maritime INTERREG Community Initiative and the Cohesion Fund for the period to 1999, as approved by the relevant monitoring committees for each programme.

Over the period 1994-99 some £160 million will have been invested in Irish commercial seaports which includes EU co-financing of approximately £80 million. Port authorities or other project sponsors raise the matching co-financing from their own resources or through commercial bank borrowings.

Examples of typical projects, which are provided for under the eligibility criteria of the relevant programmes from which co-financing is allocated, include handling equipment; berthage facilities; ferry terminal facilities; improvements in port access; capital dredging and repair of structural faults.

The following is an indicative listing of EU aid to projects at commercial seaports for the 1994-1999 period:

Port	EU Grant Assistance
	£ Million
Cork	21.509
Dublin	19.714
Dún Laoghaire Harbour	9.8
Drogheda	2.4
Foynes	3.84
Galway	0.629
New Ross	2.556
Rosslare	5.339
Shannon Estuary	1.0
Waterford	9.712
Wicklow	0.24

My Department's Vote makes provision of £2.965 million in connection with the upgrading and development of infrastructure and facilities at fishery harbours during 1998. The locations in respect of which works are proposed this year are as follows: Ardgroom, County Cork, Burtonport, County Donegal, Carlingford, County Louth, Castletownbere, County Cork, Cromane, County Kerry, Crosshaven, County Cork, Dingle, County Kerry, Dunmore East, County Waterford, Howth, County Dublin, Killybegs, County Donegal, Portmagee, County Kerry and Rossaveal, County Galway. I am considering also the provision of funding for further works at Kilmore Quay, County Wexford, and expect to finalise the matter shortly.

A further sum of £300,000 is available for development works at smaller harbours. A portion of this funding has been committed to development projects at Cleggan and Rossadilisk in County Galway. I am critically reviewing, at present, proposals for utilisation of the remaining funding.