Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Shannon Foynes Port Company, SFPC, with the ports of Dublin and Cork, was designated as a tier 1 port of national significance in the national ports policy published earlier this year. The tier 1 ports are also designated as core ports in the trans European network - transport, TEN-T, thus making them eligible to apply for EU funding under TEN-T and the connecting Europe facility, CEF. There is no State funding for port infrastructural development as it could be illegal under state aid rules, nor is there any capital funding available within the port or Iarnród Éireann for reopening the Limerick to Foynes railway line owing to budgetary constraints.

A number of studies have been carried out by Shannon Foynes Port Company of necessary jetty improvement works and future development. These proposals are outlined in the port's 30 year master plan, Vision 2041, which I launched last February.

The railway line between Limerick and Shannon-Foynes port is being maintained on a care and retention basis. Iarnród Éireann states it needs investment in the order of €10 million to reopen it for traffic. That can only happen if it is clear that sufficient volumes of freight will be transported on it and on foot of private sector investment. Meetings took place in 2012 between the SFPC, Iarnród Éireann and a number of potential line users.

The TEN-T executive agency provides funding towards the cost of studies and projects under the TEN-T programme. In November 2012 it launched a call for funding proposals which closed in February 2013. The European Commission makes the final decision on applications.

The SFPC submitted an application in February 2013 relating to preliminary works for the rail line reinstatement and certain jetty improvements.

My Department endorsed the application and a ministerial letter of support was included with the application. The project is costed at almost €13 million and the funding sought amounted to nearly €1.3 million. However, the application was not successful.

Shannon Foynes Port Company has since met with the Trans-European Transport Network executive agency, TENT-T, and the Commission to clarify any shortcomings in the project application. I understand the company intends to reapply for funding under the next round expected later in 2014. It is my intention to again issue a letter of support.

I also met with Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport and the TEN-T agency on 5 December 2013 where I reiterated the Government’s support for several of Ireland's TEN-T CEF, Connecting Europe Facility, projects.

See this speech in context