Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
456. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on the OPW role in the provision of appropriate infrastructure at Rosslare in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17116/23]
View answerAs a consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the infrastructure developed by my Office, acting on an agency basis, for the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and the Department of Health/HSE, was required to conduct checks and controls. Compliance with the Union Customs Code (UCC) remains a key driver for the need for permanent state infrastructure within Rosslare Europort and my Office is playing a key role to ensure that this infrastructure is put in place. Border control posts must be located within the customs controlled area at the point of entry.
To date, my Office has been working in close collaboration with relevant Government Departments, State Agencies and Iarnrod Eireann/Irish Rail on the project milestones that have been achieved to date. This includes securing planning permission from Wexford County Council in November 2021, the development of detailed tender documentation and its subsequent publication on eTenders to the market. The tender has been received and is currently undergoing the tender evaluation stage.
In view of the scale of this project, a Memo for Government will be brought seeking approval prior to the award of the contract. I am confident that my Office will continue to deliver this critical project for these Departments, for the development of Rosslare Europort specifically, for the wider economic development of the region and for Ireland to continue to trade successfully with all its trading partners.
