asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether there are any proposals regarding the establishment of a free port in the Shannon estuary at present under consideration in his Department; and if he will indicate the nature of such proposals and make a statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Free Port.
No firm proposals for the establishment of a free port in the Shannon estuary are under consideration in my Department, but representations have been made to me that the State should meet the cost of an engineering and economic survey to assess the potentialities of the area as a site for a free port for shipping.
I would refer the Deputy to the answers given to questions on this subject in Dáil Éireann on 19th June and 4th December of last year. I referred then to the fact that the question of establishing a free port in this country had been considered by the Ports and Harbours Tribunal, 1930, and again by an inter-departmental committee in 1945. It emerged from these investigations that the cost of providing and maintaining the facilities which would be necessary would be very substantial and inquiries made both at home and abroad suggested that the extent to which they might be utilised was highly problematical. I said I had no reason to believe that the situation had since altered in any important respect and that still remains the position.
I can only repeat that before considering any contribution from public funds towards the cost of establishing a free port or undertaking a preliminary survey I would require to be furnished with convincing evidence that commercial interests were willing to contract to use the proposed free port facilities to an extent which would justify the expenditure.