Vol. 496 No. 4
130 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will outline the details of the report of the Shannon Estuary project team commenced by her Department and completed in February 1994 which was initially chaired by the former Taoiseach's adviser Mr. Con Power. [23012/98]
The Shannon Estuary project team was established at the request of the Department of the Taoiseach and comprised representatives of the Departments of the Environment and Local Government; the Marine and Natural Resources and the Taoiseach; Foynes Harbour Trustees; the Industrial Development Authority; Limerick Harbour Commissioners; the University of Limerick and Shannon Development. The team submitted its report in February 1994 and I am arranging for a copy to be provided to the Deputy. The report set out planning principles and development strategies for the Shannon Estuary, and recommended a number of specific measures, not in order of priority, relating to a wide range of economic activities. The report would afterwards have served as an input to the planning process of the various Departments and agencies involved in the area.
More recently, Shannon Estuary Development Limited, SEDL, was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Shannon Development. Its membership is comprised of representatives of the four local authorities in the area; the Foynes and Shannon Estuary port companies; IDA Ireland and Shannon Development which also chairs the company. The company is working on a development strategy for the estuary to cover sectoral development, infrastructure development and port development. A position paper on a strategic framework for the development of the lower Shannon Estuary will be completed by SEDL in the near future. This will take account of previous studies of the development of the estuary.
