asked the Minister for Transport if he will have a comprehensive study made of passenger and car-ferry charges between (i) Ireland and Britain and (ii) Britain and France, Belgium or the Netherlands, and the reasons for the wide disparity in these charges.

The cost of travel to and from Ireland is monitored on a continuing basis by my Department and by Bord Fáilte. Available information indicates that, in general, passenger and car-ferry charges on the Irish Sea are reasonable and in terms of cost per mile compare favourably with those applying between Britain and Continental Europe. In the circumstances I cannot see that a special study on the lines proposed by the Deputy is necessary.