Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will introduce incentives to encourage freight transport by increasing port capacity as recommended by the recently published Freight Transport Report for the Island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17504/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A port capacity study undertaken on the Department's behalf by Fisher Associates in 2006, contained detailed submissions from seven ports regarding increasing unitised capacity. The report concluded, inter alia, that:

There is currently significant available capacity for further growth in LoLo traffic at Irish ports;

Current available capacity for RoRo traffic also exists, although less so than in the case of LoLo.

The study demonstrated that the projects being progressed by the ports sector have the potential to deliver adequate capacity going forward, in line with the established policy.

As acknowledged in this latest report, the expansion proposals submitted by the port companies would be sufficient for a very large expansion in Ro-Ro and Lo-Lo capacity. My Department is continuing to actively monitor both the capacity situation at our ports and the continuing progress on the submitted expansion proposals. I am encouraged by the fact that the ports continue to make significant progress with their proposals.