asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will consider dredging the Shannon with a view to providing a deep sea-port for trans-Atlantic shipping.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Dredging.
27.
The Limerick Harbour Commissioners have had surveys carried out on the feasibility and cost of dredging the bar at the mouth of the Shannon to cater for vessels of 200,000 tons deadweight and upwards. These surveys indicate that the cost of dredging in the area of the bar would be as much as £2 million to £3 million and this estimate is subject to further trial dredging, site investigations, model studies and so forth. There is no indication of the cost of maintenance dredging.
The possibilities of developing the Shannon estuary as a transhipment port were exhaustively examined some years ago and Limerick Harbour Commissioners have commissioned reports from consultants more recently.
Would the Minister agree that the Shannon in the region of Athlone requires as much attention as the Shannon in the region of Limerick?
Yes. That is another day's work.