Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2022
36. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) regarding the readiness of ports for the construction and installation of offshore wind; if he has considered the report and plans to ensure that Irish ports are ready to construct and install offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50512/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the contents of the National Ports Study commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) which provides a useful profile of port infrastructure and the proposed development plans of the port companies for both fixed and floating installations.
Ireland has ambitious plans with regard to the development of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) in the Seas around Ireland. This report aligns with Government Policy I published last December on the facilitation of ORE by Irish Commercial Ports in identifying that a number of port facilities will be required for deployment activity and a multiple of ports will be needed for O&M operations. Delivery of the necessary infrastructure is ongoing in ports to address the requirements of industry.
Ireland will potentially need to build on a phased basis, around 4 to 5 standard ORE port facilities (each capable of building 500 MW of ORE annually) that will act as construction and deployment ports over the next 25 – 30 years. In addition, a number of smaller ports will be required for ORE Operation and Maintenance activities.
A multiport approach will ultimately allow investments that are commercially viable in the long-term progress without undermining the ability of any port to meet its primary obligations in relation to the facilitation of international trade.
Officials in my Department have engaged with WEI in relation to the Study and the association, along with Marine Renewable Industry Ireland (MRIA), made a presentation last week at the ORE Ports Co-ordination Group chaired by my Department.
In relation to the Study recommendations directed at the Department of Transport, already arrangements are being made to facilitate more regular exchanges of views and updates between the Department and the industry representative associations.
In relation to funding, it is envisaged that like all port infrastructure, the ORE facilities will be funded through a combination of port revenues, EU funding and borrowing from the likes of ISIF, EIB and other financial institutions. My Department is already engaging with the various institutions, including the EU Commission, about the availability of funding for ports in providing the ORE infrastructure to meet EU and Ireland's ambitions.
In relation to the other recommendations, significant work is ongoing at official level across a number of Government Departments to accelerate and drive delivery and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland.
