Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the call from the Irish Exporters Association for him to approve Dublin Port's expansion plans to avoid a capacity crisis at the port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14404/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's ports policy statement, which I launched in January 2005, addressed, among other things, the issue of future sea port capacity requirements. When launching the ports policy statement, I indicated that one of the key challenges ahead was the timely provision of adequate in-time port capacity. As an initial step, the Department has sought information from the commercial ports which handle unit load cargo, including Dublin Port, on key projects identified by them as essential to deal with anticipated capacity deficiencies to 2014 and beyond.

As indicated in the ports policy statement, it is intended to prioritise a range of projects catering for unitised traffic at our commercial ports from an overall economic national and regional perspective, as opposed to the perceived requirements of individual ports. To that end, the Department will procure expert and independent assistance from consultants to refine the criteria to be used for project evaluation, to draw up a uniform template for submission of detailed project proposals and to subsequently evaluate and rank the projects submitted as a basis for the Department's recommendation to Government.

Dublin Port Company applied in March 2002 for ministerial consent for the reclamation of 21 hectares of foreshore in Dublin Bay. The proposed development will also require planning permission and Dublin Port Company has repeatedly been advised that it is more appropriate that the necessary consent under the planning process be obtained before the foreshore aspect is dealt with. This is in accordance with normal practice where a development wholly or partly on the foreshore requires planning permission. Dublin City Council, which is the appropriate planning authority for the area, has been advised that there is no ministerial objection to the making of a planning application for the proposed development.