Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Shannon Estuary Development Programme.

Mr. Foley

Thank you for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The Shannon Estuary Development Programme 1994-99 was presented to the Department of the Taoiseach on 2 March last. Since then there have been a number of significant developments relevant to the north Kerry area. The main developments which could have a tremendous effect on future developments in the north Kerry area are: the application for renewal of planning permission by Aran Energy for its proposed refinery at Tarbert, County Kerry; the public announcement by Iarnrod Éireann of its intention to retain ownership of the old track bed of the former north Kerry rail line between Tralee and Listowel, together with the inclusion by Kerry County Council in its development plan of a planning corridor for a future rail link between Listowel and the Ballylongford-Tarbert area; the strong possibility of a trans-shipment proposal for Moneypoint, County Clare, becoming a reality and the agreement in principle by the ESB to the use of the jetty at its power station in Tarbert by cruise liners which use the Shannon Estuary. Under the section entitled "Development Potential" developments will be expanded individually, taking other developments into account. These recent events will lead to increased potential for future development in north Kerry.

Since the 1960s the petroleum industry has displayed an interest in the Tarbert-Ballylongford area. In 1979 the IDA purchased additional land in the Ballylongford area to extend its existing holdings, and in the same year Aran Energy also purchased land in the Tarbert area. Aran Energy first obtained planning permission for its proposed refinery at Tarbert in 1983. On 18 April 1994 Kerry County Council received an updated application from Aran Energy for the Refinery Tank Farm and Marine Terminal, the original planning application having expired. While a definite decision to construct an oil refinery has not yet been made by Aran Energy, the fact that it has sought to renew its planning permission is indicative of a potential offer regarding the Ballylongford landbank. If such potential is to be fulfilled it is essential that an immediate start is made to the process of removing any constraints that currently exist.

Kerry County Council currently supplies all domestic and industrial water requirements in the north Kerry area, mainly with water abstracted from the River Feale catchment. Water supplies from all sources total 5.28 million gallons per day. However, water suppliers from ground water sources, i.e. wells, which account for 1.4 million gallons a day are at risk. I hope the necessary finance will be provided to cater for long term industrial development in the Ballylongford area, using the figures contained in Kerry County Council's preliminary report, part 1, on the proposed north Kerry regional water supply scheme. The costs are reasonable.

North Kerry awaits with interest the submissions and conclusions contained in the task force report. The potential future with regard to job creation is dependent on a positive response. Kerry County Council is to be congratulated on the work it has done to date on the north Kerry side of the estuary, it is mindful of the submission made and the significant role it will play in the development of a major facility for the area.

Kerry County Council is adamant that the development of the site and the estuary would be of immense benefit in the local, national and European interest and made a submission for an allocation of EU/Cohesion Funds for the provision of a deep water jetty costing £16 million.

I hope the Minister will have some definite news for north Kerry. If the task force is not successful I ask that the submissions be referred back to the consultants for an update in regard to north Kerry.

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Mr. T. Kitt)

The Shannon Estuary project team was established in 1992. It includes representatives from the Department of the Marine, the Department of the Environment, the IDA, the University of Limerick, the Limerick Harbour Commissioners, Foynes Harbour Trustees and Shannon Development.

The team undertook its work on the basis of an agreed set of planning principles, stemming from the particular strengths and opportunities of the estuary, which provide guidelines and a framework by which individual public investment decisions can be made. These principles were to exploit to the fullest the cost-free advantage given by the natural deep water of the estuary, exploit the established base and expand it in an assertive fashion, concentrate on the planning and provision of flexible infrastructure and the maintenance and improvement of the environment.

Given the potential of the estuary, the team identified lines of action to achieve the objectives within the agreed planning principles. These lines of action were to promote industrial development, support added-value transshipment and to promote the development of marine facilities and tourism, to achieve a "one hour estuary" on both shores, to promote one voice for the estuary and to identify appropriate incentives.

On the basis of the principles and lines of action a number of specific measures was recommended by the team for the 1994-96 period. The team's recommendations are now the subject of detailed consultations with a number of Government Departments.

The Government is concerned to ensure that the development measures emerging from this consultation process, and subsequent consideration and decision by Government, will produce a balanced outcome for both sides of the estuary. In particular, a set of proposals has been received subsequent to the task force report, specifically in relation to the estuary and north Kerry. These proposals will receive full consideration before the Government makes its final decision. The Government is firmly and clearly committed to the development and success of the Shannon region. The consultations on the task force proposals and the subsequent proposals I have just mentioned are at an advanced stage and I believe they can be brought to an early conclusion and decision by Government.