Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 204 together.

Officials from my Department maintain regular contact with the ports and various shipping companies and have been kept apprised of Stena Line's most recent adjustments to its services. Stena Line, as a commercial company, has taken a decision to introduce greater efficiencies and reduce their overall operating overheads in order to continue to provide services from Dún Laoghaire. The HSS Stena Explorer, operating on the Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead route, generates most of its turnover between May and September. This coupled with high fuel costs leaves the remaining months unsustainable. The company will continue to operate the route on a seasonal basis and services on the route are scheduled to resume in April 2012. Passengers and freight customers can still avail of the company's route between Dublin Port and Holyhead. This route is served by two vessels and the company operates a year round schedule.

As the HSS Stena Explorer is a UK flagged vessel, I have no function in regard to employment on board the vessel but I understand that the company has commenced consultations with their staff on board the vessel and those on shore in Dún Laoghaire and their trade union representatives.

Over recent years the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has been restructuring its business to keep it on a sustainable financial footing and to enable the harbour to develop and operate on a commercial basis into the future. This has inevitably led to job losses. The company has also over the past number of years pursued a twin strategy of developing alternative income streams from marine leisure and tourism related business, while also reducing its high cost base. The company has recently published a draft masterplan for public consultation for the future development of the harbour.

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