Vol. 513 No. 1
172 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if funding has ever been provided by his Department for the rationalisation of a casual dock force; if so, the amount of funding; the harbours where this financial subvention has been provided; and the plans, if any, he has under the current operational programme to provide funding for rationalisation packages for commercial ports. [1652/00]
No Exchequer funding has been provided by my Department for the rationalisation of a casual dock force at any of the commercial harbours around the country.
Under the National Development Plan, NDP, 2000-2006, some £46 million has been allocated for investment in the commercial seaports sector. In broad terms this funding will be available for investment in new infrastructure; upgrading existing infrastructure; improvement of capacity utilisation; enhancement of intermodal connections; and assisting the restructuring of non-commercial regional ports. There is no provision under the NDP to fund rationalisation packages for casual dock labour at commercial ports.
All matters relating to the commercial operation, management and control of the harbours under the jurisdiction of State commercial port companies, including the provision of port services such as dock labour services, are a matter for those port companies.
