Written answers

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Department of Transport

Port Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Transport if public funds are used to fund the Dublin Port Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46312/08]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has ever expressed concern over expenditure practices in the Dublin Port Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46313/08]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the reason the Dublin Port Company engages in extensive advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46314/08]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence in 2008 or 2007 that raised financial concerns regarding the Dublin Port Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46315/08]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 260, inclusive, together.

Dublin Port Company was incorporated in 1997 under the Harbours Act 1996. In accordance with the Act, the company is required to take all proper measures for the management, control, operation and development of the port and is required to conduct its business in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Advertising expenditure is primarily an operational matter for the company.

I am not aware of any correspondence received in my Department raising financial concerns regarding the company. On the contrary, the company has continued to trade profitably over recent years and has paid a dividend to the State for the past two years.

Since corporatisation, the company has received approximately €6.9 million in public funding. This funding was in respect of approved port capacity projects under the NDP 2000-2006 and was made available by way of share purchase under the Harbours Act.

Current policy, as set out in the Ports Policy Statement published in 2005, is that the port companies, as commercial entities, should be capable of funding their operations and infrastructure requirements without recourse to the Exchequer. There is no Exchequer funding provided for under the port sub-programme of the current NDP. However, the port companies themselves are projected to spend between €300 million and €600 million on capital projects over the course of the plan.

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