Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of performance audits on port companies which were completed in 2004 as required by statute. [30597/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Performance audits of the State port companies are not required by statute. Section 29 of the Harbours Act 1996 provides that such audits may take place, but there is no obligation on the Minister to do so. A performance audit was competed in spring 2001. Submission of this audit report to Government was delayed due to legal actions. However, the report was approved by Government and laid before the Oireachtas in July 2006.

In summary, the audit found that the eight State port companies operating in 2001 managed very different ports; that the companies had successfully accommodated rapid traffic growth; were generally adapting to a more commercial mindset; and were becoming cost efficient and customer focused.

The Department has no plans at present to commission another composite performance audit of all the State port companies. The Department believes that, having regard to the number and diversity of the State port companies, individual monitoring and targeted intervention where necessary is more efficient and cost effective.

The performance of each port company is closely monitored by the Department through the mandatory annual reporting requirements.