Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, in the Chamber. This is a matter in which I have a personal interest, especially as it relates to my constituency. Foynes Port is one of six terminals which make up the Shannon-Foynes Port Company. Foynes is by far one of the deepest ports in Ireland and has the capacity to play a leading role in the future infrastructural development in this country. I am seeking that joined-up thinking be displayed in respect of this matter. I ask that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister would take the lead in this regard. Foynes Port is located on the western seaboard and has massive potential that is not being realised at present. It could provide a counter-balance to Dublin Port and could service the entire western seaboard.

Foynes is unique in some ways in that it is serviced by a rail link. However, that link is currently closed, which is a pity. I do not believe it would take much to reopen the link. It would not take much to do so with speed restrictions attached. The latter would allow for the conveyance of bulk cargo in and out of the port. Foynes is also served by a national secondary route, namely, the N69, which links Limerick to Tralee via Listowel. Unfortunately, during the good days of the Celtic tiger era - and like many other routes - the N69 did not attract significant Government expenditure. As a result, a huge number of heavy goods vehicles access Foynes Port via the N69. These vehicles are obliged to trundle through several towns and villages along the way. Some of them use the main regional route from Cork to Foynes via places such as Dromcollogher and Newcastle West.

I am asking the Minister to consider the overall potential of Foynes Port in the context of its capability to serve as a transit point for bulk cargo and containers and also as a place where cruise liners can berth. Everyone is aware of the fantastic tourism potential of the western seaboard. In that regard, Foynes is the only port in the west which possess the potential to berth larger cruise liners. In recent years increasing numbers of cruise liners have berthed at Foynes. However, the potential that exists in the context of marketing the Shannon-Foynes Port Company, whether in the context of Limerick docks, Foynes or further down the estuary towards the mouth of the Shannon, has not registered to the degree to which it should have on the radar of the Department.

I welcome the comments the Minister made at last week's meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht when I raised this matter with him. I particularly welcome those comments in light of the current review of ports policy. I accept that emphasis will be placed on ports such as Dublin and Cork. However, there is a necklace of small ports along the western seaboard and questions have arisen in respect of their future viability. I would like all the stakeholders - Limerick, Kerry and Clare county councils, the National Roads Authority, CIE, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the local community - to be involved in drawing up a development plan that will include a properly integrated approach. There is no point in developing a massive terminal on the west coast if it is not accessible. At present, Foynes is accessible by rail but, for some reason, Iarnród Éireann is not considering this from a strategic point of view.

I am seeking to establish a starting point in respect of this matter. As already stated, Foynes Port has massive potential. I do not believe that potential is being properly realised at present. There is a willingness on the part of the Shannon-Foynes Port Company to drive the development of the port forward. The Foynes Flying Boat Museum and other stakeholders are extremely interested in progressing this matter. The new Minister has swept through his Department like a breath of fresh air. In that context, I would like Foynes to be used as a case study for the future.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Shannon-Foynes is the second port I have visited since becoming Minister. While there, I had the opportunity to speak to the CEO, the chairman and the management at the port, who impressed upon me the issues to which the Deputy refers. My Department and I support and are committed to the port. We see it as being one of our successful ports in the future. We look forward to a time when it will be in a position to pay a dividend to the State.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of national roads. The construction, improvement and maintenance of both national primary and national secondary roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA - in conjunction with the local authorities concerned - under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007. Working within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is also a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with section 19 of the Roads Act.

As the House will be aware, the national recovery plan published by the previous Government in November 2010 envisaged significantly reduced road investment for the duration of the plan. As a result, the scope for proceeding with any significant road projects, including the improvement of the N69 road from Foynes, is now very limited.

This Government's capital investment review, which is under way across all sectors, will form the basis for a new national development plan for the period 2012 to 2016 and will examine the costs and benefits of capital projects against a range of economic, social and environmental criteria. Key considerations in the transport sector will be the need to protect the investment made to date in our road, rail and public transport networks and to continue with remedial safety measures. Once the funding framework for capital expenditure is determined, it will be a matter for the NRA to prioritise projects within its funding envelope. If I adhere to the previous Government's spending plans, no new road projects will commence from 2012 onwards. I understand the NRA has been in contact with the Shannon-Foynes Port Company outlining its current position and indicating it will continue to carry out necessary pavement renewals and low-cost safety measures on the N69 route.

On rail access to the port, I should point out that decisions relating to the reopening of rail lines, including the Limerick to Foynes rail line, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. The company has advised me that it continues to engage with the Shannon-Foynes Port Company and potential customers to establish whether a viable commercial case exists to reopen the line. Iarnród Éireann is keen to ensure the zinc from the Pallas Green mine can be moved by rail to whichever port from which it is ultimately exported. Initial projections suggest it would cost approximately €9 million to reopen the rail link to Foynes. Any decision in that regard would have to be taken in the context of competing demands for funding in the region and in other regions.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, my responsibility is for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport. Decisions on transport projects will be taken in the context of the capital review to which I referred earlier. As is my position in respect of the roads element of my remit and in light of the difficult financial situation that exists, the first priority will be to ensure funding to protect and maintain existing investments and to maintain high safety standards. This, of necessity, will restrict the funding for new projects. Only those projects offering the highest return and contribution to overall economic and transport objectives, and which are affordable, have any chance of being prioritised.

Iarnród Éireann has made a submission to the Department in respect of its priorities for funding under the transport capital programme. Final decisions in this regard will be made in the context of the new national development plan.