Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, in the Chamber. This is a matter in which I have a personal interest, especially as it relates to my constituency. Foynes Port is one of six terminals which make up the Shannon-Foynes Port Company. Foynes is by far one of the deepest ports in Ireland and has the capacity to play a leading role in the future infrastructural development in this country. I am seeking that joined-up thinking be displayed in respect of this matter. I ask that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister would take the lead in this regard. Foynes Port is located on the western seaboard and has massive potential that is not being realised at present. It could provide a counter-balance to Dublin Port and could service the entire western seaboard.

Foynes is unique in some ways in that it is serviced by a rail link. However, that link is currently closed, which is a pity. I do not believe it would take much to reopen the link. It would not take much to do so with speed restrictions attached. The latter would allow for the conveyance of bulk cargo in and out of the port. Foynes is also served by a national secondary route, namely, the N69, which links Limerick to Tralee via Listowel. Unfortunately, during the good days of the Celtic tiger era - and like many other routes - the N69 did not attract significant Government expenditure. As a result, a huge number of heavy goods vehicles access Foynes Port via the N69. These vehicles are obliged to trundle through several towns and villages along the way. Some of them use the main regional route from Cork to Foynes via places such as Dromcollogher and Newcastle West.

I am asking the Minister to consider the overall potential of Foynes Port in the context of its capability to serve as a transit point for bulk cargo and containers and also as a place where cruise liners can berth. Everyone is aware of the fantastic tourism potential of the western seaboard. In that regard, Foynes is the only port in the west which possess the potential to berth larger cruise liners. In recent years increasing numbers of cruise liners have berthed at Foynes. However, the potential that exists in the context of marketing the Shannon-Foynes Port Company, whether in the context of Limerick docks, Foynes or further down the estuary towards the mouth of the Shannon, has not registered to the degree to which it should have on the radar of the Department.

I welcome the comments the Minister made at last week's meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht when I raised this matter with him. I particularly welcome those comments in light of the current review of ports policy. I accept that emphasis will be placed on ports such as Dublin and Cork. However, there is a necklace of small ports along the western seaboard and questions have arisen in respect of their future viability. I would like all the stakeholders - Limerick, Kerry and Clare county councils, the National Roads Authority, CIE, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the local community - to be involved in drawing up a development plan that will include a properly integrated approach. There is no point in developing a massive terminal on the west coast if it is not accessible. At present, Foynes is accessible by rail but, for some reason, Iarnród Éireann is not considering this from a strategic point of view.

I am seeking to establish a starting point in respect of this matter. As already stated, Foynes Port has massive potential. I do not believe that potential is being properly realised at present. There is a willingness on the part of the Shannon-Foynes Port Company to drive the development of the port forward. The Foynes Flying Boat Museum and other stakeholders are extremely interested in progressing this matter. The new Minister has swept through his Department like a breath of fresh air. In that context, I would like Foynes to be used as a case study for the future.

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