Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin Port has been granted the right to apply to An Bord Pleanála to infill 52 acres as a strategic infrastructure; and if he will issue a request to the Port board to refrain from applying for permission until key strategic studies on port capacity under the National Development Plan and on the appropriate development plan for the bay by Dublin City Council as authorised under the Planning Act 2000 are available for consideration by the board. [4328/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that Dublin Port Company has received confirmation from An Bord Pleanála that its proposal to extend the port at the north eastern perimeter qualifies to be considered as an application under the strategic infrastructure legislation. I understand that the company is presently engaged in the process of preparing the detailed planning application and the environmental impact assessment to accompany the application. The timing of an application is a matter for the Board of Dublin Port Company.

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. 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 (roll on roll off) trade and some 62% of the LoLo (lift on lift off) trade was handled at Dublin Port in 2006. The National Spatial Strategy identifies strategic merit in relieving pressure on Dublin Port 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.