Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
450. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the EU or national incentives there may be for entrepreneurs who are investigating the possibility of establishing a ferry link between Cork and Gizon in northern Spain to facilitate the large volume of freight and tourist traffic that currently have to drive on French and English roads. [43125/13]
View answerMy Department, through the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), can support and assist those wishing to establish new shipping services by providing them with expert market intelligence and analysis. The Irish market currently offers a diverse range of viable maritime links in and out of the State. All ferry companies servicing those routes are private commercial companies and their services are market driven. Any new initiatives to enhance connectivity or develop new routes must be market driven as government funding of ports or international shipping services would be contrary to EU State Aid and Competition Law.
In relation to EU initiatives, the EU's Marco Polo programme which provided an avenue of funding for shipping operators ceases this year. The 2013 call for proposals was published on 26 March 2013 with a deadline for the submission of proposals of 23 August 2013. There is no indication currently whether this programme will be replaced with a similar programme. However, the European Parliament and the Council are finalising the Regulation on Union guidelines for the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) and its associated financing regulation the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). These regulations are due to be published soon and will enter into force in 2014. The TEN-T guidelines and the Connecting Europe facility establish the priorities for European funding of transport infrastructure.
Motorways of the sea represent the maritime dimension of the TEN-T guidelines. The guidelines define what maritime transport infrastructure may be eligible for co-funding under CEF and the guidelines outline certain criteria for ports. Both the Port of Cork and the Port of Gizon are designated as CORE ports under the regulation and may be are eligible for funding. Further information is available on the website www.tentea.ec.eupopa.eu.
