Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Offshore Exploration.

Kathleen Lynch

Ceist:

340 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of the ?218 million that will be invested by a company (details supplied) in developing the Seven Heads gas field off the Cork coast, only 6.4% of ?14 million will be spent directly here with another ?10 million of indirect spending; if his Department has plans that will assist the indigenous Irish operators and Irish workforce in securing a greater share of the spend for the local economy in future offshore development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18673/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

The development of the Seven Heads relies on and uses sub-sea technology which has been developed in recent years. The technology and its equipment are sophisticated and expensive and the cost will absorb much of the development costs for this field. The equipment includes, for example, pipe-laying vessels, manifolds and umbilicals for which there are very few suppliers in Europe. Ireland, like most other countries, does not produce these highly specialised products. This technology has made possible, economically and technologically, the development of small or remote oil and gas fields which would not otherwise have been developed, including Seven Heads. My Department, with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, has facilitated communication between the offshore industry and local industry. As a result local industry is aware of and has the opportunity to compete for the goods and services required by the offshore sector.