Bernard J. Durkan
Question:53 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which freight facilities have been enhanced at all seaports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13463/01]
Written Answers - Port Development.
In 2000 the total investment in ports under a range of EU supported programmes under the Community Support Framework 1994-1999 was £27.64 million. These programmes included the Operational Programme on Transport, 1994 to 1999, the Cohesion Fund, the Ireland – Wales Maritime INTERREG Community Initiative, 1994 to 1999. This series of investment programmes has transformed the port sector. In addition to infrastructural developments, the structure of the ports industry has been subject to major changes as the Government has focused on improving the commerciality of ports since and through the introduction of new ports legislation, the Harbours Act, 1996, and the Harbours (Amendment) Act, 2000. Over the period 1994-2000 the operational programme for transport provided aid of £30.83 million supporting a total investment of £74.65 million. A wide range of projects received grant aid assistance from the OPT.
Table 1: Projects under the Operational Programme for Transport
|
Port |
Projects |
|
Cork |
Ringaskiddy Deepwater Terminal,Provision of Cruise Pontoons at Cobh Cruise Berth,Tivoli Deepwater Terminal,Ringaskiddy Bulk Flat Storage (R&H Hall),Ringaskiddy Bulk Handling Facility (Moylare) |
|
Dublin |
Bulk Handling Storage Facility (R&H Hall)Surfacing of Compound (Rushfleet Ltd) |
|
Drogheda |
Tom Roe's Point |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
Construction of Passenger Terminal |
|
Waterford |
Multi-purpose Crane and handling equipment;Dredging at Belview, Access Road to Belview Terminal;Dredging at CheekpointNew Quay (Stokestown Port Services) |
|
Port |
Projects |
|
Foynes |
West Jetty Extension and Ancillary Works |
|
Greenore |
Refurbishment of Facilities at Greenore Port |
|
Galway |
Construction of Warehouse |
|
New Ross |
River Barrow Improvement Scheme;Construction of an Ore Handling Facility (Stafford Shipping) |
|
Wicklow |
Upgrading of Packet Pier |
The Cohesion Fund contributed £31.59 million aid towards a total investment of £43.09 million. Projects which have received grant aid assistance under the Cohesion Fund include:
|
Port |
Projects |
|
Dublin |
North Quay Ro/Ro BerthLo/Lo Terminal 1South Quays Container Terminal |
|
Cork |
Passenger Ferry TerminalCork Harbour TugCork Tivoli Container Terminal 1Cork Tivoli Container Terminal 2 |
|
Waterford |
Rail Crossing at BelviewRoad Access at BelviewWaterford Port DredgingBelview Quay Extension |
|
DublinCorkWaterfordRosslareShannon |
Vessel Traffic Management Information System (V.T.M.I.S.) |
The Ireland-Wales INTERREG Programme, 1994-1999 helped enhance the impact of Structural Funds investment in Ireland over the past few years. It supported significant, additional infrastructure investment in Irish ports, improving the linkages between the two coastal zones, and also developing the access routes on which Ireland places greatest reliance for its trade with the rest of the EU. EU aid of £20.502 million under this measure supported total investment of £55.47 million to a range projects along the east coast. Projects which received grant aid assistance include:
|
Port |
Projects |
|
Dublin |
Dublin Ferry TerminalConstruction of a Freight BuildingRefurbishment of the BreakwaterPort Community Systems |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
Ferry Terminal DevelopmentRecreational Planning ProjectBreakwater Project |
|
Rosslare |
Ferry Terminal Developments and Other Works |
|
Irish Exporters Association |
West Wales Southern Ireland Corridor |
|
W.S. Atkins & Co. |
Bridge – IT IBridge – IT II |
|
New Ross Port |
River Barrow Improvement Scheme |
|
DOMNR & AngleseaBorough Council (JointVenture) |
Scoping Study – Transport Information |
Official statistics published by the Central Statistics Office indicate that throughput through Irish ports increased by some 38% over the period 1994-1999. In 1999, the latest year for which official throughput figures are published by the Central Statistics Office in the annual Statistical Release – Statistics of Port Traffic, 42.938 million tonnes of goods were handled by Irish ports. It is estimated by my Department that the total throughput – approximately 45.5 million tonnes – of port traffic for 2000 was some 6% greater than in 1999. Actual throughput figures for 2000 and for the first quarter of 2001 are not yet available. Investment in ports improved capacity and quality of port facilities. The growth in Ireland's international trade and in port activity means that continued investment is required. This will be provided under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.