David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

607. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the marketing strategies or programmes in place to support Waterford and Rosslare ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29646/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Port of Waterford Company is a State owned commercial company and as such my Department has no involvement in the day to day operations of the company.  The Company is directly responsible for its own marketing strategies.  I understand that the Port of Waterford has recently launched its Business Plan (2016-2020). This plan sets out the ambitions and planned activities of the Company for the next 5 years and provides a clear and transparent basis for engagement with all stakeholders. In 2015, the port recorded a 10% increase in its bulk throughput and an 11% increase in throughput in the Load-on-Load-off area.

  Iarnród Éireann is responsible for the management and operation of Rosslare Europort and as with any commercial business that includes developing marketing strategies and programmes which might deliver increased business for the port. The Company is assisted in that regard by a Stakeholder Advisory Group which meets quarterly and whose membership is comprised of a diverse range of local and regional interests including  tourism, business, fishing, port users, unions and management representatives. In 2015, Rosslare port recorded a 4% increase in commercial traffic when compared with 2014 while the number of passenger cars/motorcycles etc. using ferries at the port increased by 2%.