Vol. 547 No. 1
138 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the aims and objectives of the expert task force on transport logistics in connection with commercial seaports; if the task force will examine the potential for the development of port estates and his proposed strategic study of the greater Dublin Bay, including Dublin Port; the progress made to date by each of those committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1495/02]
The Task Force on Transport Logistics in connection with ports was established under the chairmanship of Dr. John Mangan to examine the potential and prospect for increasing the volume of port traffic which is transported by rail and the transfer of port generated freight traffic from road to rail including the development of rail head facilities at existing ports; for transport of freight across transport modes by night – off peak; traffic diversion including, by rail, by pipeline, including relocation of oil tank farms, and to other less congested ports outside Dublin; and to identify other imaginative proposals to reduce congestion and make port access-egress more efficient cost effective options for the movement of port related traffic through Dublin and the possibility for transfer of non essential activities away from the commercial sector.
The chairman has advised that the task force has completed its deliberations and expects to present its report to me in early February 2002.
I also appointed Mr. Paul Tansey, as chairman of an expert task force to advise me on the potential for the development of port estates at commercial harbours operating under the Harbours Act, 1946 and Harbours Act, 1996 and 2000.
