Vol. 442 No. 2
113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Marine the Exchequer or EC funding that has been provided within the past five years or is planned for the development of Dún Laoghaire Port; if this will duplicate facilities already available in Dublin Port; and the number of ongoing Irish jobs that will be provided.
The operating costs of Dún Laoghaire Harbour are provided by way of an annual subvention from the Marine Vote and the total expenditure for the last five years, 1989-93, was £8.2 million. Capital investment over this period was £1.6 million of which £490,000 was recouped from the EU. The income earned by the harbour, £15.8 million over the same period was appropriated to the Exchequer.
Ambitious plans have been announced for the introduction of new vessels on the central corridor. The introduction of these new vessels will require the development of both Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire Harbour and will not duplicate facilities already in Dublin Port. The costs of the Dún Laoghaire project will be of the order of £15 million. The level of EU aid available for this project has yet to be determined.
The implementation of these plans offers the best prospects for ensuring the highest sustainable employment in shipping lines on this corridor, competitive services to the exporting and tourism sectors and maximum benefit to the Irish economy.
