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Ports Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2021

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Questions (72, 73)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

72. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to restore the status of Galway as a national port for the purposes of accessing national and EU funds to develop the port in view of the recommendation by an Bord Pleanála to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to grant imperative reasons of overriding public importance planning permission for the construction by a company (details supplied) of a new port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24809/21]

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Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to nominate Galway port for inclusion by the EU as a Ten-T port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.

In line with National Ports Policy, no exchequer funding is provided to any port company, irrespective of their designation.

The National Ports Policy sets out criteria for the designation of ports as Ports of National Significance (Tier 1 or Tier 2) or Ports of Regional Significance. Galway Harbour Company does not meet the criteria laid out in National Ports Policy to be designated as a Port of National Significance (Tier 1 or 2): Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) are ports that are responsible for 15% to 20% of overall tonnage through Irish ports, and Ports of National Significance (Tier 2) are ports that are responsible for at least 2.5% of overall tonnage through Irish ports. Galway Port’s average market share of national total tonnage handled since corporatisation in 1997 averages around 1.5%. Therefore, it is designated as a Port of Regional Significance.

Galway Harbour is also not included in the EU’s Trans European Network for Transport (TEN-T) as it does not meet the qualification criteria.

However, in December 2020 officials from my Department and Galway Harbour Company met with officials from the European Commission to explore the potential for the inclusion of Galway Harbour Company on the comprehensive network. The European Commission’s position was that whilst a review of the TEN-T Regulation was being conducted, the design and qualification criteria for inclusion on the TEN-T Comprehensive Network should remain as is with some minor adjustments.

As part of the ongoing review of the TEN-T Regulation, officials from my Department met with the European Commission again in March of this year. At this meeting, it was once more highlighted that the current methodologies being used for inclusion on the comprehensive network do not provide for the potential role that ports such as Galway Harbour can play in contributing to the EU Green Deal.

Outside of these meetings, my Department has engaged with the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions to discuss the possibility of additional criteria being added to the TEN-T Regulation to allow for the inclusion of ports, particularly those in the Atlantic Region, on the Comprehensive TEN-T Network.

It is intended that officials from my Department will have a further meeting with the European Commission on the ongoing review of the TEN-T regulation. At this meeting, the inclusion of Galway Harbour on the TEN-T comprehensive network will again be raised. At that stage, a proposal on the matter will be formally made to the Commission.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 72.
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