asked the Minister for Transport and Power the plans he has for the development of the port of Drogheda.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drogheda Port Development.
46.
Apart from essential repair works now in progress there are no plans for development of the existing port of Drogheda.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Drogheda Harbour Commissioners have proposals for development works at Mornington at the mouth of the River Boyne but further consideration of these proposals has been deferred until some major user gives a prior commitment to using Mornington.
Is the Minister aware that extensive work needs to be carried out so as to ensure the proper development of the port of Drogheda and will he make the necessary finance available to carry out this work?
Is the Deputy speaking now of the existing port of Drogheda or the new one at Mornington?
I am referring to the existing port.
That work is going ahead. About 12 months ago I visited the port there and as a result of that I set up a working group within my Department to examine the proposals by the harbour commissioners, to review the works in progress for improving the existing port and to examine plans for harbour development works. The works at present being undertaken or being considered at the existing port are as follows:
(1) The rebuilding of the quay walls: this work is nearing completion and was financed mainly by the Office of Public Works which contributed £90,000 as the repairs were made necessary as a result of the Boyne drainage scheme carried out by that office.
(2) Resurfacing the roads in the port area: this work is still being done and is being financed in part by Local Loans Fund borrowing of £60,000, leaving about £52,000 to be met by the harbour commissioners.
(3) The river walls, which are in urgent need of repair: repairs have been estimated to cost about £220,000. The harbour commissioners could not service Local Loans Fund borrowing to this extent and again feel that the local authorities should help financially towards the cost of repairing the walls because of their usefulness in flood control. This matter is being pursued with the Department of Local Government.
Is the Minister aware that there is not sufficient money to continue the work already in progress which, as the Minister knows, is only a fraction of the total work necessary? Is he further aware that the cost of the very necessary development works is far beyond the resources of the harbour board? Surely the Minister and his Department should be willing to make some money available to the harbour commissioners to proceed with this work.
It has not been the practice or policy of any Government to make money directly available to harbour commissioners for reconstruction. As I said in my reply, Drogheda Harbour has had money made available from the Office of Public Works and also borrowing from the Local Loans Fund and there is only a balance of about £52,000 to be met by the harbour commissioners. The river walls are, as I said, in urgent need of repair and this at the moment is a matter for discussion between the group organised by my Department for the port of Drogheda and the Department of Local Government.
But surely the Minister is aware that the work on the river walls is of very great importance.
I am.
He has pointed out that the cost would be in the region of £220,000. Where does the Minister think the harbour commissioners are likely to get this amount of money?
We shall have to pass on to the next question now, Question No. 47.
They are meant to balance their expenditure by revenue from the port users. In a case like this, where there are different circumstances, because the harbour commissioners allege some of the damage done is not primarily their responsibility, they have gone to the Department of Local Government and the Office of Public Works looking for additional finance and for money from the Local Loans Fund. In one case that has been granted and, in the second case, it is the subject of negotiations at the moment.
We really must pass on.
This is a matter of exceptional importance.
And this must be the Deputy's final supplementary question. I have allowed the Deputy a great deal of latitude.
What prospect does the Minister think the harbour commissioners have of getting £220,000 to do what is vitally necessary work in relation to the river walls?
The Minister is probably expecting another miracle.
I did not catch the Deputy's interjection, but the normal practice is that the harbour commissioners raise their own finance and they service that from the dues they charge to the port users. This happens in every harbour. It is only in very exceptional circumstances of a major industrial project that a grant is made from my Department.
The Minister is aware that it is not possible to raise that kind of money.
No, I am not. Drogheda port has been helped considerably by the overcrowding in Dublin and Drogheda has been very busy, as the Deputy knows.