Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The possibility of more tonnage passing it is predicated on the expansion of the port because the current facilities are not fit for purpose and that is the catch-22 aspect of the matter. The figures from the European Commission are based on tonnage and on percentage for each country. Galway is at the upper level of the tier 3 ports. It handles the highest level of tonnage of such ports and had the lowest reduction in tonnage handled between 1998 and 2011, at just 7%. Other ports experienced reductions of up to 95% in the same period. The board is favourably disposed towards the expansion plans but the refusal of TEN-T funding was predicated on the figures to which I refer. I ask the Minister if a case could be made in any event - perhaps there might be a European precedent in this regard - to reflect the future possibilities for Galway, which is the country's third city and which is a major port in the west? If planning permission were granted, would the Minister be in a position to put a case to the Commission that an exception be made in respect of TEN-T funding for Galway Port?