Vol. 547 No. 4
41 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the further development of the Tom Roe's Point deep sea facility, Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3442/02]
As the Deputy may be aware I announced an allocation of some €1.664 million under the infrastructure measure of the BMW Regional Operational Programme of the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, to Drogheda Port Company in December last in respect of the completion of phase one of the Tom Roe's Point development. Projects for which funding was approved included the purchase of a container handling Liebherr mobile crane and the paving of up to eight acres of hardstanding.
I am advised by Drogheda Port Company, which is statutorily responsible under the Harbours Acts, 1996-2000, for the management, control, operation and development of the port facilities, that it is the company's intention to continue to expand its facilities over the coming years in line with market requirements for new and improved port facilities. A second grant aid application under the national development plan from Drogheda Port Company for further development of the Tom Roe's Point terminal is currently under consideration. I hope to be in a position to make a further allocation of grant aid allocations for commercial seaport development under the national development plan very shortly.
