Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any meetings or communications with either a company (details supplied) and or the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county council in the context of the An Bord Pleanála decision with regards to the cruise berth in Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38849/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I can confirm that I have not had any meetings or communications with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company or Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to the An Bord Pleanála decision to grant planning permission for the development of a new cruise berth in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. This is a matter for the Dún Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group which lodged the formal planning application with An Bord Pleanála in respect of the proposed development.

The possible development of the cruise business was identified as one of the opportunities to be pursued in the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Masterplan. A Cruise Stakeholder Group was established comprising of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Dún Laoghaire Business Improvement District. The Harbour Company prepared a business case for the construction and operation of a cruise facility. The study estimated that the cost of a new cruise berth of this size would be of the order of €15m-€18m.

The expansion and development of the cruise business would offer some economic benefits to the Harbour and the surrounding areas. However, it is important to recognise that the cruise industry is not a lucrative source of revenue for harbour companies themselves and it can be difficult for investments in this area to repay their costs through charges or port levies.  Indeed, it is my understanding that any return to the Harbour in this instance would not balance out the level of investment required.

There is no Exchequer funding for port companies and any cruise infrastructure developments must be funded on a commercial basis and/or through collaboration with those beneficiaries of cruise tourism, be they regional interests or the cruise operators themselves.