As Ireland’s largest commercial State port, Dublin Port Company handles approximately 50% of the total freight at Irish ports. In line with the Programme for Government, National Ports Policy and the National Development Plan, Dublin Port Company is progressing implementation of its Masterplan 2040 to facilitate the Port to provide for future sustainable growth and changes in facilitating seaborne trade in goods and passenger movements to and from Ireland and the greater Dublin region in particular. Dublin Port Company has also signed up to the Climate Action Framework for commercial semi-state bodies, reflecting the role it is to play in decarbonisation.
My officials and I have maintained regular contact with Dublin Port Company to ensure that the need to cater for rail freight, housing, the circular economy, climate action and biodiversity is factored into its expansion plans.
The potential environmental impacts of any future strategic infrastructure development proposals within the port will be assessed by An Bord Pleanála and will be subject to public consultation as part of the statutory planning application process.
The National Ports Policy has been successful in ensuring that our ports, particularly the Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) such as Dublin Port Company have led the response of the State commercial ports sector to future national port capacity requirements. The review of the National Ports Policy provides a welcome opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute to deciding the approach to the environmental, technological, demographic and geopolitical challenges of the next decade.
