Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:74. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if Galway Port is eligible for either State grants or Ten-T grants to develop the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59372/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 1 December 2021
Ceisteanna (74)
Freagraí scríofa
Under National Ports Policy, no Exchequer funding is provided to the ports.
In relation to TEN-T grants, Galway Harbour Company is not eligible to apply for EU TEN-T and CEF funding as it does not satisfy the EU qualifying criteria and therefore is not part of the TEN-T network.
In the context of the European Commission's Review of TEN-T, my Department has engaged bilaterally with the Commission over the past 18 months in relation to a number of matters, including the eligibility of Galway Port.
Minister Naughton also followed up directly with Commissioner Valean on the margins of the Transport Council in September 2021 but the Commissioner was clear that the Commission were not planning to make substantial changes to the network.
The Commissioner’s cabinet got in touch with my Department regarding other possible EU funding avenues which included European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and CEF Energy. This information was forwarded to the Port of Galway for its consideration.