Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Oct 1992

Vol. 134 No. 2

Adjournment Matters. - Dún Laoghaire Harbour Development.

Miss Keogh

I would like to share my time with Senators Cosgrave and Conroy. I thank the Minister for coming along tonight to hear the Senators from Dún Laoghaire and I will be brief because I realise that people are interested in other things happening tonight.

I am sorry to have to ask the Minister to come here again tonight to give another commitment on Dún Laoghaire. He generously gave one a short while ago when launching the report on Dún Laoghaire harbour. At that time there was general delight among the councillors and public in Dún Laoghaire that at last we were going to see movement on the development of our harbour. We were particularly pleased when the Minister reiterated the commitment given by the previous Minister, Deputy Wilson, in this House. I would like to emphasise how important we consider the development of Dún Laoghaire port and in particular of the ferry services. Unfortunately rumours have been circulating — I am sorry to be the bearer of rumours to the Minister — that suggest that there is less than commitment among other relevant people to the development of the port. I am not saying that this is the fault of the Minister; we accept his previous statements in good faith.

On a recent tour of the harbour facility in Dún Laoghaire it was brought home to us once again how bad facilities are for the Sealink Stena Line. I commented to one of my colleagues as we were walking through that the whole area was like pictures we have seen of Ellis Island. There is a grave need to develop that facility.

The interim harbour board report gave exciting outlines of proposed development for the port which included the development of the ferry services. It was brought home to us on our visit that if this does not happen Dún Laoghaire will die as a port and as a focus of employment for the borough area. We are fearful that the strong lobby from Dublin port, which we know exists, will undermine the efforts that have been put into the preparation of a plan for the development of the port and particularly the harbour, reducing Dún Laoghaire to a focus for tourism and nothing else. I know that my colleagues here feel as strongly as I do about the development of Dún Laoghaire harbour. We are all united in our anxiety about the future of the harbour and in our desire to see the whole area developed.

Mr. Cosgrave

I thank Senator Keogh for sharing time with me. I want to make some brief points about rumours circulating in the borough that the Department of the Marine are going cold in relation to funds for Dún Laoghaire and particularly for overdue site investigation works. May be at this time of year the Minister is not in a position to find hundreds or thousands or even millions of pounds, but the Christmas spirit may help.

Money is needed to repair the connecting bridge at present. There is also the ongoing question of the ferry services and the retention of Sealink, which is the preferred option. We are all aware of the vigorous lobby from Dublin port, but to them I would say "hands off" and "get your own house in order". Dublin port is not necessarily the ideal model of a port.

I know the Minister's office is nearer to Dublin port than to Dún Laoghaire, but in reality and injustice, both schemes may be entertained. Current proposals for Dún Laoghaire are important for its economic future and for tourism. I hope the Minister will undertake to make money available for site investigation works, to repair the connecting bridge, to enable Sealink to remain in Dún Laoghaire and to retain the ferry services. It is important that we receive this commitment from the Minister here tonight.

Professor Conroy

I thank Senator Keogh for sharing her brief time and thank Senator Cosgrave also. I thank the Minister for coming here tonight and for coming to Dún Laoghaire and showing that he is aware of the importance to Dún Laoghaire of the ferry service, its life blood. There may be arguments for a single ferry port in the Dublin Bay area but, if so, two points merit attention. There are many facilities in Dublin while Dún Laoghaire is primarily a ferry port. From a practical point of view users of Dún Laoghaire harbour have made it clear that they would prefer to continue using Dún Laoghaire. All public representatives in Dún Laoghaire are united on this issue. Senator Cosgrave is current Chairman of Dún Laoghaire Corporation and Senator Keogh may be a future Chairman. There is concern among all and we would welcome further confirmation of the Government's intentions towards the ferry.

Minister for the Marine (Dr. Woods)

Earlier this year I published the development plan for Dún Laoghaire harbour. This plan is a co-ordinated and balanced programme for the development of Dún Laoghaire harbour which presents a strategy for the development of the harbour into the next century. It promotes a vision of a high quality environment with a balanced development of its commercial and public services, marine-related activities, recreation and tourism potential. Senator Cosgrave was concerned that the Department of the Marine might go cold on this issue but I assure him that neither the Department nor myself intend to do so. In fact I do not often go cold; I run hot most of the time. I am aware of the rumours which have been circulating and I appreciate the points made by the Senators.

The Government have approved in principle the main outline of this development plan, including its proposals for the development of the ferry terminal. That is an official Government decision. I know that only the outline has been approved but it is an important decision in relation to Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

The Government have also authorised the advancement of the plan to the next stage, another formal Government decision. The next stage involves site investigation work, cost benefit analysis and other studies which are needed to justify the expenditure set out in the plan and to investigate the sources and costs of funds for the development. It is a major plan as Senators will appreciate, dealing with a bad situation which Senator Keogh described. There is much work to be done and heavy capital works to be undertaken. I expect to be in a position to advertise for tenders to conduct these investigations within the next week and I hope that will reassure the Senators and others concerned.

In relation to the points made by Senator Cosgrave, the work on the connecting bridge is under way now and will become more obvious in the next few days. It has been approved and we will see it in operation. I have placed on record my unequivocal support for the retention of the ferry service to Dún Laoghaire and the harbour development plan's proposals for upgrading the facilities.

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board has emphasised the view that the development of facilities on the central sea corridor should, in the national interest, be based on a Dublin Bay approach. They envisage the two ports concentrating on the traffic for which each is best suited. In that context they envisage that Dún Laoghaire will continue to provide a ferry port.

The review group on commercial harbours and pilotage policy and legislation recommended that Dún Laoghaire Harbour should remain separate from Dublin port in order to promote competition. The location of investment for either passenger or freight facilities should be determined by commercial considerations. This recommendation is in line with the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board's advice in this respect.

Work on the preparation of the Harbours Bill, 1992, is underway. I will be following the review group's proposals in framing the new legislation and in making proposals on the future organisation of commercial seaports, including Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I intend to present these proposals to Government in the near future. We have been working on these over the summer and have had a great deal of consultation already. I expect to be in a position to come to Government with the proposals shortly.

In relation to commercial decisions by the Stena line, the company has indicated that they wish to stay in Dún Laoghaire. That will be a matter for them to decide. The steps I am taking are in harmony with the excellent plan prepared by the group. I hope to be in a position reasonably soon to start making some progress on it.