Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I thank Deputy Sheehan for raising this issue.

The Cork Swansea Ferries Company suspended its service in 2007. The Minister for Transport appreciates the concerns that have been expressed in the region in response to this development. The Minister understands that a number of interested parties and stakeholders have been in discussions with the Port of Cork Company about the possibility of commencing a new passenger and freight service out of the port. The Minister is also informed that a commercial examination of the route has been carried out which indicates that, subject to procuring a suitable vessel, the service could be feasible on a year-round basis. The Port of Cork Company will certainly do what it can to facilitate the resumption of the service.

The Minister for Transport is of the view that it is important that the market should offer a diverse range of maritime links both into and out of the State. That is vital to facilitating trade and tourism. It is hoped that the current efforts show that the service is commercially viable and that it can be resumed as soon as possible.

I will outline other recent developments in the maritime sector. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for national ports policy which provides a framework for the provision of commercial port infrastructure and services that are efficient, effective and adequate for the needs of our trading economy. In addition, the Minister for Transport is the primary shareholder in the ten State-owned port companies, including the Port of Cork Company. However, he has no role in the day-to-day operational matters of the company.

The principal objectives of the Port of Cork Company are to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of its harbour. Current policy is to require the ports to operate commercially, without Exchequer support and to provide adequate in-time capacity for the future needs of the economy. The Port of Cork Company has a number of projects under development to significantly increase and improve the port facilities it has to offer within Cork harbour.

The Minister for Transport also has responsibility for policy in regard to the shipping and maritime commerce sectors, which are the largest direct employers in the Irish maritime economy. The Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO, is the shipping sector's statutory, dedicated development and promotional agency. The Government has introduced a number of fiscal and strategic policy measures that have had significant positive impacts on the sector. Government policy to promote the shipping sector concentrates on fiscal areas, marketing and education.

As regards fiscal reliefs, a range of beneficial fiscal reliefs, with EU state aid approval, is in place for the shipping sector. These include a full refund to employers of social insurance contributions relating to seagoing employees, a unique €6,350 income tax allowance for seafarers who are at sea for more than 161 days and a €5,000 tax-free allowance for Irish seafarers.

As regards marketing, the Irish shipping industry is marketed through the Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO. The IMDO pursues its promotional activities, supported by the Department as appropriate, through direct marketing, including contact through the embassy network and through the holding of information seminars for the industry.

The Government has also taken a number of initiatives in the area of maritime education. The €51 million National Maritime College of Ireland opened in autumn 2004 in Ringaskiddy, County Cork.

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