Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent of consultation with stakeholders-employers in Dublin Port to date regarding future development plans for the port; his role in the master plan for Dublin Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21292/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In 2013 I published a new National Ports Policy. As is stated in that, port masterplanning is in line with international best practice and is consistent with policy to improve integrated planning for all modes of transport. All of our Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) have in recent years published such documents and I welcome the initiative shown by the ports in providing clarity to all stakeholders in relation to their likely future development requirements and options. The development and implementation of these plans is carried out by the particular companies concerned and is not one in which I, as Minister am directly involved. In February 2012 Dublin Port Company published its masterplan which outlines a vision for the future of the port. It set out a range of potential development scenarios to accommodate growth in what is our most important port.  The publication of the final document represented the culmination of a wide-ranging Company led consultation process with port stakeholders, statutory bodies and the general public. The process included publication and circulation of an ‘issues paper’, information briefings for customers, employees and interest groups, public information meetings for citizens and a conference in May 2011 on the emerging themes generally.

National Ports Policy affirms the Government’s support for the core principles underpinning the Company’s masterplan and I am aware that the Company has recently lodged a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in respect of the first major infrastructure development project outlined in the masterplan. That independent statutory planning process will afford a further opportunity to any interested party to make a submission on the detail of a particular project.