Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the taking over of Drogheda port by Louth County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4230/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, National Ports Policy recommends the transfer of control of the five designated Ports of Regional Significance to more appropriate local authority led governance structures. As one of the five Ports of Regional Significance, Drogheda Port Company will transfer to the control of Louth County Council through a transfer of the current Ministerial shareholding in the company to the local authority.

These transfers require amendments to the current Harbours Acts and my Department is working with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to bring forward a new Harbours (Amendment) Bill. I expect to seek Government approval for the text of the finalised Bill within Q1 2015. The Bill itself will not the be the legal instrument of transfer, but it will provide the necessary power to allow for later transfer by Ministerial order.

The draft General Scheme of the Bill, the associated Regulatory Impact Analysis, submissions made during consultations, together with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport's report thereon and my  response to that report, are all available on my Department's website.

The Company and the Council have been working together on a joint Steering Group established to oversee the necessary operational arrangements under the new governance model. Since publication of the initial Regulatory Impact Analysis in summer 2013 my Department has maintained regular contact with representatives of all relevant companies and local authorities and I look forward to publishing the Bill in due course.