Pádraic McCormack
Question:12 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the study to examine the viability of Rossaveel for oil and gas exploration will be concluded. [7903/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Harbours and Piers.
The primary purpose of the review is to recommend an integrated strategic framework for the cost efficient development of harbour infrastructure and facilities at Rossaveel. Tenders have been sought for receipt by end March with a view to awarding a contract as soon as possible thereafter. The review will take particular account of the economic and socio-economic role of the fishing sector in the Rossaveel area as well as Rossaveel's role as a port servicing the Aran Islands. Potential developments in the offshore oil and gas sector and other potential commercial usage of the harbour will also be examined. There will be ongoing consultation with the relevant statutory bodies, harbour users and local interests during the review which is to be completed by end June.
I welcome the assurance of the Minister of State, but I am disappointed tender documents have been sought for only a review of the harbour's facilities rather than for its use in terms of real work. If review tender documents are to be submitted by March and the review is to be completed by June, does the Minister of State think the refurbishment of Rossaveel Harbour will be ready to cash in on the Corrib gas field discovery, given that his replies to earlier questions indicated that most of the proposed servicing of that gas and oil field will be from Ayr in Scotland? We would like facilities to be available on the west coast, particularly in Rossaveel, to facilitate the servicing of the Corrib gas field discovery.
I have visited Rossaveel and I am pleasantly surprised to note today that Rossaveel would be an ideal location to develop. It has four metres of water at low tide with one deep water berth of just six metres. The harbour is well sheltered and Cashla Bay has excellent swing room for the larger fishing vessels to manoeuvre. It seems an ideal location to develop. I can assure the Deputy, and I am not making a political point, that the Minister, Deputy Fahey, has put in train all he can to make sure that any advantage that can be gained from the Corrib field discovery development will be put in place in that part of the country.
Can the Minister indicate a more specific timescale for such work? When might action be taken on the results of the review of the facilities at Rossaveel Harbour?
I cannot give the Deputy that information as the review will be not completed before the end of June. Politics being what they are, I am sure action will be taken as quickly as possible in that area. There is not too much work to be carried out to harbours such as Rossaveel.
What are the terms of reference of the review?
They are to examine in detail the facilities that are available and, if they need to be upgraded, I am sure that recommendation will be made. The intention is to make sure that any facility offered will be capable of doing what it is supposed to do. The worst scenario would be to provide a service from an area that cannot cater for what is required. If that happened, the offshore company might not want to use the facility and might use the facilities in Ayr in Scotland which have been used for a long period in this field. We want to get this right.
I welcome the assurances of the Minister of State.