Written Answers. - Port Development.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
192
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
the extent to which port development is co-ordinated or planned to ensure smooth and effective transport in and out of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18583/02]
A key goal of my Department, as outlined in the strategy statement 2001-2003, is to support and facilitate the availability of efficient and competitive maritime transport and port services.
To achieve this objective, a targeted capital investment programme at seaports to address identified future capacity deficiencies and infrastructural needs is incorporated into the National Development Plan 2000-2006. To determine the needs of the ports industry, my Department commissioned independent consultants in 1998 to complete an EU-funded national seaport capacity study. This study was updated in 2000. The study is a significant tool in ensuring the development and maintenance of adequate infrastructural capacity at strategic Irish ports to cope with economic growth and to underpin future development plans to deliver that capacity and has identified requirements up to 2007.
A total of €58.4 million Exchequer funding is provided through the BMW regional operational programme and the southern and eastern regional operational programme of the seaports measure under two sub-measures (1) seaport infrastructure and capacity development and (2) disengagement as follows:
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€10.2 million
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BMW region – infrastructure and capacity
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€2.5 million
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BMW region – disengagement
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€40.1 million
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S & E region – infrastructure and capacity
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€5.6 million
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S & E region – disengagement
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These sub-measures will between them maximise the use of existing facilities and infrastructure and ensure sufficient new infrastructure is added as demand grows.
The Harbours Act, 1996 freed Ireland's key ports from direct departmental control and gave them the commercial freedom they need to be able to operate as modern, customer-oriented service industries. The Act allowed for the development of 12 former harbour authorities into commercial harbour companies, each operating under company law with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources and the Minister for Finance as shareholders. The Act gave each company the power to manage its own affairs, to develop facilities and services to meet the changing needs of its customers and to allow each to operate effectively and to the benefit of all sectors of the Irish economy.
There are at present ten commercial State port companies operating under the Harbours Act, 1996. In accordance with the Act, each port company is statutorily responsible for the control, operation, management and development of the port and required to operate in accordance with a strict commercial mandate.
