Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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1652. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will indicate if the Dublin Port Company has decided not to fill in the 52 acres of Dublin Bay. [37734/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Dublin Port Company is the State's most important port and National Ports Policy designates it as a Port of National Significance (Tier 1). The continued commercial development of the Company is a key strategic objective of ports policy.  

In February 2012 Dublin Port Company published its masterplan. The plan outlines a number of development scenarios and future options for infrastructure development over the next 30 years.  

The plan is underpinned by three core principles:

1. Maximisation of usage of existing port lands;

2. Reintegration of the port with the City;

3. Development of the port to the highest environmental standards.

The plan is not intended to be prescriptive but rather represents the Company's vision of how different development scenarios would impact on its ability to continue to facilitate trade and possible actions the Company might undertake to respond to these challenges.

The plan does refer to a potential need, sometime in the future, to consider reclamation options; however, the plan states explicitly that 'projects involving reclamation will only be advanced if and when they become necessary and if they can meet exacting planning and environmental protection standards .'

The timing and progression of such infrastructure development is a matter for Dublin Port Company.