Vol. 528 No. 3
52 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on the effect the imposition of a toll on the proposed second river-crossing at Waterford City will have on the competitiveness of the port of Waterford; the assistance he can give in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30113/00]
The Port of Waterford Company is one of eight port companies charged with a commercial mandate to manage, control, operate and develop our commercial seaports. These ports handle in excess of 99% by volume of Ireland's external trade. The port of Waterford's Belview terminal is one of four container ports in the country.
I support, as does the port of Waterford Company, the general strategy of utilising the public private partnership contract model for appropriate contracts. The port company has advised my Department of its concerns about the imposition of hard tolls on the second river crossing at Waterford. This, in their view, could have an adverse effect on haulage to and from the port in what is already a price sensitive business and thus result in a possible loss of trade to the port particularly if access to and egress from competing ports is not similarly tolled.
I am advised that the proposal for the imposition of tolls will, in any event, be the subject, under the Roads Act, 1993 as amended by Planning and Development Act, 2000, of a toll scheme prepared by the National Roads Authority and the subject of a public consultation process. I am further advised that the Waterford Port Company intends to contribute fully to the process.
