Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 5

Written Answers. - Port Development Programme.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

112 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine the programme of investment in port infrastructure and facilities in strategic corridors which is being supported by Community funds; the increased frequency of service; and the actual benefits of this. [4027/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Coveney)

An investment programme of some £58 million in the strategic commercial ports is being supported by EU funds under the Transport Operational Programme over the period 1994 to 1999. Some £42 million of investment is being supported by Cohesion Fund aid. This involves the following:

	EU Aid	Investment
	£m	£m
Transport Operational Programme	28	58
Cohesion Fund(¹)	25	42

(¹) Assumes a 60 per cent average rate of grant aid.

In addition some £40 million investment in port development will be supported by the Maritime INTERREG programme.This programme is being finalised at present and the exact allocation for port development projects is not yet available.

The objectives of the operational programme for transport are to reduce user costs; facilitate throughput increases; improve frequency of services; improve turnaround time and reduce journey time uncertainties; increase shipping competition and improve user confidence and stimulate port investment.

The specific impacts of the proposed port development programme are to facilitate throughout increases by end of 2000 of 11.2 million tonnes; facilitate growth in passenger traffic of 5 per cent per year to 1999 and reduce combined port and shipping costs to users by accumulative minimum of 15 per cent in real terms over the lifetime of the programme.