Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Transport if there has been consultation between his Department and Dublin City Council over the council's plans to transform the Dublin Port area into a multi-use development; his views on plans to move port capacity out of Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3475/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2007 Dublin City Council published for public consultation a wide-ranging study of economic, amenity, recreational and environmental issues linked to Dublin Bay, including the port area. I understand that the outcome of the consultation will be reported back to the Council shortly.

As part of the preparation of the study my Department made a submission to the consultants carrying out the study. This pointed out that Dublin Port currently handles the vast majority of trade for the Greater Dublin Area and beyond and as such is of vital strategic importance to the economy. Some 79% of the State's RoRo trade and some 62% of the LoLo trade was handled at Dublin Port in 2006.

The National Spatial Strategy identifies strategic merit in relieving pressure on Dublin through targeted interventions in building up port capacity elsewhere. The National Development Plan proposes a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port, taking account of locational considerations, in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy.

My Department is in the process of initiating this study and is liaising closing with Dublin City Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this regard.