Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Shannon Foynes port is a State-owned company established under the Harbours Act 1996. 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 use of the land within the port estate are primarily a matter for the port company and its board.

On 15 March last, Shannon Foynes Port Company announced that it is conducting a strategic review of its property portfolio, which could result in a major expansion and upgrade of its facilities in the Shannon Estuary at a cost of over €100 million. The company has recently sought expressions of interest with regard to the Limerick Docklands and is seeking tenders for two sites within the docklands. There are currently six different port installations in the Shannon Estuary that fall within the jurisdiction of Shannon Foynes Port Company. The company projects significant increases in its volume of trade over the coming years and states that investment in new modern facilities that can handle bigger ships is required to accommodate this growth in trade.

The Government's Ports Policy Statement published in January 2005 outlines that the disposal of non-core assets is a potential source of funding for new port developments. Whatever the conclusions of the strategic review, the company has said it will continue to work in partnership with other stakeholders in the region, including the company's customers that are currently using the Limerick docks.

Regarding the road being constructed downstream from the docks, the overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of National Road Projects is a matter for the NRA and the relevant local authority.