asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the high freight charged by public transport companies and the very bad condition of the Donegal roads, he will consider the question of subsidising coastal cargo vessels operating along the Donegal coast.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subsidisation of Coastal Cargo Vessels.
Improved facilities for coastal shipping are being provided at Killybegs, Rathmullan and Burtonport harbours, State grants amounting to nearly £100,000 being made available for the purpose. There are, however, no funds at my disposal for the payment of subsidies on coastal shipping, and in any event I am not satisfied that shipping subsidies would provide a solution for internal transport problems. The freights charged by the public transport companies in County Donegal compare reasonably well with the freights in other parts of the State, but a diversion of traffic would inevitably lead to higher freights, thereby placing those in the interior of the county at a disadvantage.
Any question regarding the condition of the roads will no doubt be raised by the Deputy with the Minister for Local Government.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that he would be setting no headline and no precedent by the subsidising of this coastal transport and that when it was tried in the past it proved a success? May I further point out that the interior of the county would be at no disadvantage because the ports would become the distributing centres for all goods imported?