Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to develop Rosslare Europort, County Wexford; if he has a strategy for the future of this port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20421/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Rosslare Europort differs somewhat from the other ten State owned commercial ports, in that it operates as a commercial division of Iarnród Éireann, rather than a stand alone company under the Harbours Acts. The port is the second largest roll on/roll off port in the country and provides important transport links to the UK and continental Europe. Traffic through the port has grown substantially over the last decade. My Department liaises closely with the port with regard to ports policy developments and in particular port capacity.

The port was one of seven ports to make a detailed submission as part of the Port Capacity Study carried out in 2006. Since the study my Department has continued to monitor capacity developments under the Port Sub-Programme of the current NDP. Rosslare has a major capital investment programme for 2009. The bulk of this will be spent on a new linkspan in the port, which is currently under construction.