Dublin Port Company and Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company were both incorporated under the Harbours Act 1996. In accordance with the Act, the companies are required to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of their harbours and are required to conduct their business in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Capital expenditure by the port companies is reported upon in their annual accounts, copies of which are laid each year before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
As indicated in the Ports Policy Statement, the port companies, as commercial entities, are expected to fund their operations and infrastructure requirements without recourse to the Exchequer. There is no Exchequer funding provided for under the port sub-programme of the current NDP. However, the port companies themselves are projected to spend between €300 million and €600 million on capital projects over the course of the plan.
Dublin Port Company did receive €6.9 million of Exchequer funding for two projects under the Seaports Programme of the NDP 2000-2006.