Joe Walsh
Ceist:149 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has for the development of the Whiddy Oil Terminal, Bantry, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/96]
Written Answers. - Whiddy (Cork) Oil Terminal.
In March 1995, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications Deputy Emmet Stagg, instructed the Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) to reinstate the Whiddy Island Oil Terminal by the installation of a single point mooring for the discharge and loading of crude oil.
Work on the project has been completed within the last month and I expect that the terminal will shortly be in a position to resume operations.
The provision of the single point mooring will allow full access to the 205,000 tonnes of strategic crude oil stocks currently held there and provides the possibility for that stock to be increased by the National Oil Reserves Agency. It also enhances the attractiveness of the terminal for possible commercial activity by third parties in the future and the INPC is preparing to market the terminal for that purpose.