asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals for the improvement of Irish ports and harbours which have been submitted by the Government for EC funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In determining the investment programme for commercial ports, the Government have decided that the major priority must be to ensure that there is appropriate port capacity and quality port infrastructure strategically located in relation to the main internal transport arteries. More specifically, the investment programme for ports has been determined on the basis of two overriding considerations as follows:

(1) Investment in ports which are essential for the efficient and economic movement of export goods and the import of raw material for manufacturing;

(2) essential preservation and development work at certain ports so that they can retain their existing capacity and employment and satisfy regional needs.

Paragraph 3.1.35 of the National Development Plan 1989-1993 indicates that expenditure will be concentrated particularly on Dublin, Rosslare, Waterford and Cork ports.

Subject to approval of the peripherality programme by the EC a total investment of approximately £60 million in commercial ports is proposed during the period of the plan.

With regard to fishery harbours, it is the policy of my Department to cater for the needs of the Irish fishing fleet by the development and improvement of a three-tier harbour system comprising:

(a) five fishery harbour centres, owned and managed by the Department, at Killybegs, Rossaveel, Castle-townbere, Dunmore, East and Howth. In 1987 these five ports accounted for landings of over 150,000 tonnes valued at £36 million;

(b) a number of strategically located other major harbours at which significant catches are landed, such as Greencastle, County Donegal — landings in 1987 of 3,500 tonnes valued at £2.6 million — where a major development scheme is under way, and

(c) a number of secondary and smaller harbours and piers catering for fleet needs which cannot be satisfied elsewhere because of congestion at the larger harbours or because of proximity to valuable fishing grounds or large mariculture sites.

For the rational development of an adequate infrastructure for the industrious fishing fleet, proposals have been submitted to the EC for a programme of fishery harbour development with an estimated expenditure of £17 million over the next four years.

I thank the Minister for his reply, but let me refer him to the paragraph subsequent to the one he referred to in the national plan, namely 3.1.36, where there is a commitment from the Government to invest £72 million in the commercial ports, not £60 million as he has advanced now, provided the approval of Brussels is forthcoming. Does this represent a diminution in the investment? Does the Minister agree that in Single Market conditions the state of our ports and their ability to handle the extent of our trade will be more important than ever and, currently, that the figures are 80 per cent in volume terms and 65 per cent in value terms? Finally, is Dún Laoghaire excluded and are the berthing facilities for the passenger service on which the continuation of the passenger ferry may well depend entirely excluded?

There has been a diminution. The funds being made available are less but, as the House will see from the statistic I have given, there is still a very substantial investment and it will go far to support the objective, namely of having proper harbour facilities, and it will be up to the Minister for the Environment to provide roads and to CIE to provide rail service to the port. The actual amount of investment will go a long way to doing what we want to do. I agree with the Deputy. When I was in the Department of Transport we did a great deal of study and gave much thought to the problem of ports and, with the channel tunnel in the background, we were concentrating very heavily on getting the maximum facilities for our ports.

Dún Laoghaire is a separate matter. The House will know that I promised an interim harbour board. I am in the process of consulting people whom I want to act on it. I will be announcing its members tomorrow and I will be getting advice from that interim harbour authority with regard to the development of Dún Laoghaire and, of course, the report, of which the Deputy is aware, of the committee chaired by Professor McAleese. The distilled wisdom of that committee is also available to me as will be whatever input both Dún Laoghaire Corporation and the members of the interim harbour board will be able to provide me with.