Dáil debates
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Adjournment Debate
Ferry Services.
9:00 pm
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
On 25 November 2008, I received a reply to a parliamentary question I tabled to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in respect of the Government's commitment to ferry services between Greencastle and McGilligan's Point. The opening of this ferry connection in 2002 was an important demonstration of the expanding nature of links between the Republic and the North and of the Government's commitment to the north west. However, that was then and this is now. The ferry service between McGilligan's Point and Greencastle and that between Buncrana and Rathmullan are in serious jeopardy as a result of funding issues at local authority level.
Limavady Borough Council and Donegal County Council initially offered a subvention in respect of these services. However, as the level of this subvention decreased, the operators were obliged to increase fares. Consequently, passenger numbers dropped and the ferries may not operate this year.
The north west has one opportunity in the summer months to help sustain small businesses in the services and tourism sector and bring money into the Exchequer. Earlier today the House debated the public finances and from where we are going to obtain money. A major opportunity exists to allow us to benefit from visits from UK tourists this summer. Last year alone, 400,000 tourists visited the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim and surveys indicate that people tend to travel from there, through McGilligan's Point, on to Greencastle and then across to Rathmullan via Buncrana. They visit tourism attractions such as Glenveagh National Park and Doe Castle and places such as Malin Head. Essentially, they complete the entire historical and cultural tour.
We need to retain this product. This summer will be one of opportunity. I am trying to be as positive and as constructive as possible because we need to considers ways in which potential might be created. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have indicated that tourists from the UK — the Welsh, the Scottish and the English — are going to visit Northern Ireland. If they do so, we must try to benefit by encouraging them to travel across the Border. The only way this will happen is via the ferry links to which I refer.
This is a massive opportunity. The UK is committed to providing £22 million in respect of the construction of a new visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway. The figure of 400,000 tourists to which I referred earlier is approximate and may possibly be an underestimation.
I am not seeking funding. However, I am seeking that a meeting involving the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, the North-South Ministerial Council and the special EU programmes body in respect of funding opportunities should be facilitated. Some €300,000 would be required to retain and maintain the two ferry services to which I refer. The British authorities see the route at Lough Foyle as an international crossing. In the context of the British-Irish Agreement, our Government does not perceive it as such. However, it is a vital item of infrastructure for tourism in the north west. It is a natural corridor that leads out onto the north Atlantic passage.
As already stated, I am not seeking money. All I want is the facilitation of a meeting involving the special EU programmes body and the Minister for Transport. Limavady Borough Council and Donegal County Council do not have the money to pay for the ferry services. However, the EU might potentially be in a position to provide it and this could assist us in raising revenue for the Exchequer. In recent days the EU committed €100 million to an interconnector between Wales and Ireland so there is obviously funding available. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to use his influence to facilitate a meeting between the Minister and the special EU programmes body.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I commend him on the enthusiasm with which he put his case. I have not visited the north west as a tourist for a number of years, but I recognise the potential to which he referred. However, I do not have any good news for him.
As Minister of State at the Department of Transport, I do not have a function in respect of the ferry services to which he refers. I understand Donegal County Council provides funding for ferry services on Lough Swilly. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has indicated that in the past, some funding for the Lough Foyle ferry service was provided by the UK authorities, with the balance from Donegal County Council.
I accept that this is an important issue for people in County Donegal and Deputy Keaveney spoke to me yesterday in respect of it. I can outline the broader position with regard to what we do in the Department but I am not sure whether any of the information I will provide is specific to the matter raised by the Deputy.
As Minister of State, I have responsibility for national ports policy, which relates to the provision of commercial port infrastructure and services. In addition, the Minister for Transport is the primary shareholder in the ten State-owned port companies.. However, neither he nor I have a role in the day-to-day operational matters of those companies. Current policy is that ports should operate commercially without Exchequer support.
I also have responsibility for policy in respect of the shipping and maritime commerce sectors. It is important that the market, in the context of tourism and trade, should offer a diverse range of maritime links into and out of the State. The Deputy made a case in respect of the tourism aspect in this regard and I can see the value of that. It has not, however, been the practice of the Department to subsidise shipping routes, nor are there any funds available for this purpose.
As the Deputy is probably aware, there are two European Commission programmes that encourage the development of transnational shipping routes with the objective of shifting freight from the roads network. These are the motorways of the sea and Marco Polo programmes and they are governed by a specific set of rules and a framework. The Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO, regularly publishes full details of these programmes on its website, www.imdo.ie. The IMDO is the shipping sector's statutory, dedicated development and promotional agency. When I first heard about this issue the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and local authorities came to mind because they may be involved in this area in the west and on the islands.
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
On a point of information——
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Points of information are not permitted during the Adjournment debate.
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I wish to be helpful because I appreciate the Minister of State's position and the fact that the issue falls between numerous stools.
John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Deputy may not contribute again.
Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I ask the Minister of State to facilitate a cross-party meeting to which Senator Keaveney should also be invited.
Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The issue does not have a home, as it were, and the Office of the Ceann Comhairle decided my Department should address it. I hate to deliver bad news but shipping services do not come within the remit of the North-South body and are not one of my responsibilities. I will relay the Deputy's request for a meeting to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I do not wish to raise hopes, however, as I do not believe the North-South body has addressed this type of issue to date.