Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to address the falling trade at our national ports including the recently reported 10% drop in trade at Dublin Port in 2009; the position regarding the proposal for the development of Bremore Port; the way he envisages Dublin and Bremore Ports operating together; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6439/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Traffic throughput at the State's commercial seaports is an obvious barometer of economic activity as a whole. The Dublin Port Study carried out last year under the National Development Plan concluded that national port throughput would continue to decline in 2009 and into 2010 and that traffic throughput will not return to 2007 levels until post 2011. The Irish Maritime Development Office's most recent figures indicate that the rate and pace of the decline in shipping traffic volume continued to ease during the 3rd quarter of 2009.

In the case of our largest port, Dublin, I welcome the company's recent statement that the decrease in throughput has shown signs of stabilisation and that the total downturn in traffic in 2009 was less than expected. In the medium to long term the Dublin Port Study concluded that traffic growth will be such that significant additional port capacity will be required by 2025-30. In the Greater Dublin Area there are two significant projects at different stages of the planning process at present. The Bremore proposal is at pre-planning stage and a decision from An Bord Pleanála in relation to Dublin Port's proposed expansion is expected in the coming months.