asked the Minister for Communications the amount of grants provided to Irish ports, excluding fishery ports, over the last ten years; and the relationship between the total amount paid by way of such grants in that period and the current annual gross revenue in the case of each port.

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following tabular statements:

(a) Payment of State Grants 1975-1979

(b) Payment of State Grants 1980-1985

1. The figures for 1975-84 are actual payments made. The figures for 1985 are allocations made at the beginning of 1985 except in the case of Dublin where the Government in May 1985 approved the payment of a State grant of £3 million to the Dublin Port and Docks Board in 1985.

2. Figures shown for annual gross revenue are taken from the latest available audited harbour authority accounts.