Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for the change of use of any port lands within Dublin Port to provide for new residential developments; and the process that would have to be followed to allow for such developments. [16275/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Dublin Port is a State-owned company established under the Harbours Act 1996. It is the country's premier port in terms of throughput and turnover, and as such is of vital strategic importance to our trading economy. The Act provides that the principal objects of the company include the provision of such facilities, services and lands in its harbour for ships, goods and passengers as it considers necessary.

The company is required to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of its harbour. Decisions regarding the land within the port estate are a matter for the port company and its board in the first instance. More generally, a process is underway in my Department to examine future port capacity requirements at a national level, particularly for unitised trade. The ports have been invited by advisors working for the Department to make detailed project submissions regarding their development plans.

I might add that decisions regarding the change of use of land are a matter for the local planning authority, which in the case of Dublin Port is the Dublin City Council.