Mr. Glenn Carr:

I will take those aspects separately, and start with offshore energy. I look after rail freight as part of my remit. Today was about Brexit, so I did not submit information regarding offshore renewable energy. Offshore wind, however, is absolutely our next target in Rosslare Europort. It is the best geographically positioned port in respect of where the development of offshore wind resources is happening along the south-east coast. There will be floating offshore wind energy, but that is some way away. Our initial target with the climate action plan is to put in place the existing planned offshore wind farms.

No port currently has the required facilities for what is expected to be developed. However, we have engaged extensively with the offshore wind market and with the developers of offshore wind projects, and we are now taking plans to the Government and the Department to develop Rosslare Europort as the offshore wind hub for the country. I believe strongly that we are the only port which has the potential to be developed. Investment is needed, but we have the land and road connections.

Turning to offshore wind and rail freight, the offshore wind energy companies want to assemble at the quayside and then go straight back out. There is positive news regarding rail freight, because we have just commissioned a final report on the development of rail freight. There are great opportunities for rail freight to be developed here. It has been underutilised and probably undersupported. Investment is needed in that area and, again, we are also taking plans on board regarding developing rail freight, part of which would involve connections to ports. We are already connected to Dublin Port and the Port of Waterford, but we would also like to be connected to the Port of Cork and to Shannon Foynes Port.

It is more challenging for Rosslare Europort, because there is only a single line running up to Dublin. In addition, the current Waterford to Rosslare rail line is not in operation.

From a policy perspective, that would have to be examined. There is nothing to prevent rail freight being developed into Rosslare, and we will play our part in that, however we have been concentrating on growing our roll-on roll-off business. We see a great opportunity for the port and region in offshore wind. That is our focus. I see rail freight as developing more for other ports, particularly as Waterford is so close to us. It is lift-on lift-off.