Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1581. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of Galway port; if it is still considered a national port or if it has been reduced in status to a port of regional significance; the implications of the different status of various ports in relation to accessing EU and national funding for development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1085/17]
View answerNational Ports Policy, published in 2013, introduced clear categorisation of the ports sector into Ports of National Significance (Tier 1), Ports of National Significance (Tier 2) and Ports of Regional Significance. National Ports Policy designates Galway port, which is one of the smaller State-owned commercial port companies, as a Port of Regional Significance.
The categorisation of ports under National Ports Policy has no implications for funding. There is no Exchequer funding for the ports sector. National Ports Policy clearly outlines that all commercial port companies must operate on a commercial basis without recourse to State funding for any activities. Currently, all commercial port companies operate on a self-financing basis with no Exchequer support.
With regard to funding from the EU, ports meeting the criteria for designation under the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) regulation can apply for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) EU funding instrument.
Dublin, Cork, Shannon Foynes, Waterford and Rosslare ports all meet the qualifying criteria for inclusion on the EU TEN-T Comprehensive Network, with Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes meeting the criteria as 'Core' ports on the Network.
Currently, Galway port is not part of the TEN-T network and is not eligible to apply for TEN-T and CEF funding. However, the TEN-T Regulation allows for ports to join the network, if they satisfy its qualifying criteria. Therefore, if at some future stage Galway port has sufficient tonnage, then it will be eligible for inclusion on any revised network and eligible to apply for funding under the TEN and CEF funding streams.
