Michael Lowry
Ceist:66 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has to develop a national ports policy as part of his plans to expend EU funding on the development of commercial ports.
Written Answers. - National Ports Policy.
A comprehensive national ports policy is in place. The strategy which underpins this policy is focused on improving competitiveness and expanding the capacity of the internationallytraded sectors of the Irish economy. The policy is directed at supply side factors and offers significant potential to influence the rate of growth of the productive sectors of the Irish economy.
The two primary objectives of our port policy are as follows: to facilitate the expansion of industry and agriculture and facilitate the expansion of tourism.
The third objective is to assist local sub-regional development.
The operational objectives of our port policy programme are as follows: ensuring that there is adequate safe capacity for passenger and freight traffic; improving access to international export and tourism markets; reducing costs to industry, tourism and agriculture by encouraging investments which reduce direct user costs, reduce transit times and encourage competition in shipping with resultant cost advantages.
Achievement of these objectives entails the ongoing pursuit of the following complementary policies: (a) restructuring of the management framework for port authorities through the early introduction of commercial semi-State enterprises to manage the 12 bigger ports and (b) a major programme of investment, supported by Community funds, in port infrastructure and facilities, the emphasis being on investment in strategic corridors so as to increase frequency of service and benefit economies of scale. The major programme of investment is in line with the Government's stated aim in the Programme for a Partnership Government of ensuring that our commercial seaports have appropriate capacity and high quality infrastructure, strategically located in relation to sea corridors and main internal transport arteries, having regard to the upcoming opening of the Channel Tunnel and also to facilitate the introduction of new ship handling and shipping technology.