Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
247. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Transport the status of the masterplan for Rosslare Port; the timeframe for publication of the report and subsequent actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40625/21]
View answerRosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports, as it is not a commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts but is instead operated on a commercial basis as a division of Iarnród Éireann with all investments funded from port revenues. This is similar to other ports in Ireland which receive no Exchequer funding and must fund all their infrastructure developments through their own resources, borrowing or through EU grant funding.
There has been a significant increase in shipping services from Rosslare direct to the continent as a result of Brexit. Rosslare reports huge demand for these services with an almost 500% increase in freight units through Rosslare when compared to the same period last year.
In the context of these developments, Iarnród Éireann and Rosslare Europort’s strategic investment Masterplan for the port over the coming years has been completed and includes investment plans for €42 million in customer facilities, port infrastructure, freight facilities, port assets, new technology and linking the new entrance of the port with the proposed new port access road. As the Masterplan is commercially sensitive it will not be published so as to protect the commercial operations of Rosslare Europort. However the Deputy will be able to find further information on the Masterplan on the Rosslare Europort website where greater detail of the plan has been made publicly available. Furthermore, Iarnród Éireann has advised that this investment is to be entirely financed from the port’s own resources.
This Masterplan will allow for expansion in the port’s current key areas of Ro/Ro freight and passenger transport. The Masterplan will also provide the required permanent infrastructure to facilitate the post-Brexit border inspection requirements, while also creating increased capacity. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that planning approval has been granted by Wexford County Council for the development, and that clearance work commenced in December 2020. It is expected that this work will be completed over the course of four phases totaling between three and five years and that the port will be able to continue to operate normally while this is carried out.
Iarnród Éireann has also commenced a digitalisation project for the port, which will see investment in all aspects of IT technology with the aim of transforming the Europort into a ‘smart port’. This will include vehicle-recognition systems, trailer-tracking systems, compound management and check-in and check-out systems.
