Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not a member of the select sub-committee, I am but a tourist. As the Minister has special responsibility for tourism, he may give me a good hearing.

I wish to make a few comments, more to do with section 8 than the amendments. Section 8 relates to the Schedule 1, tier 3 companies, including Galway Harbour Company. Galway Harbour is located in the country's third city. This relates more to the national ports policy, which predates the Minister's appointment. The ports policy states that the Department notes the return of cruise tourism traffic to Galway Harbour in 2012 and supports the company's efforts to develop this business. It also states that new legislation will allow for the potential of private investment. The category Galway Harbour is aligned with includes the ports of Dún Laoghaire, New Ross, Drogheda and Wicklow. If we look at page 23, table 2.1 of the ports policy, we see the reductions and decline in tonnage handled at selected Irish ports within that category. The reduction is 95% in Dún Laoghaire, 65% in New Ross, 49% in Drogheda, 37% in Wicklow and 7% in Galway. There is a much lower decrease in port output in Galway than at the other four ports in the category. Also, based on the 2011 figures, Galway has the highest tonnage, at 554,000.

The issue that concerns me is the categorisation of Galway Port and its inclusion in that group. As the Minister knows, Galway Port has large expansion plans and an oral hearing on these was held at the start of this year. The plans include the sale of some assets but propose the retention and redevelopment of the internal harbour area, which would be a huge boost to tourism in the Galway area because the harbour lies at the heart of the city. For a city of this size and with the potential for its port to serve a vast area of the west, the absence of a modern, national port is to be questioned. As far as I understand, Galway has been excluded - the only commercial port of its size to have been excluded - from TEN-T funding, which would have provided a huge boost. This funding could amount to up to 20% of the cost of capital expenditure for the proposed extension of the port. I am told Galway is the only port in the country within that range which is being denied this opportunity.

Waterford and Rosslare, which have tier 2 status, are eligible for TEN-T funding. The effect of not being a tier 1 or tier 2 port makes it extremely difficult to attract investment funds and potential investors for the port extension. There is no guarantee of planning permission but the soundings from An Bord Pleanála in respect of compensatory measures for the impact on the SAC within Galway Harbour are positive. Will the Minister indicate if there is any possibility that the status of tier 3 ports could be re-examined in the context of the legislation? If planning permission were granted - and where there is a possibility of using own resources and private investment - could the possibility of TEN-T funding be re-examined? That would be crucial to completing the programme. There is huge potential in the west for tourism and trade. However, the port of Galway is not fit for continued expansion in light of the existing facilities there.