Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A lot of work is happening within the Department and there has been ongoing engagement with the EU, the ISIF and the EIB to lay the ground for our ports and the potential investment there. The policy statement recognised that existing ports in Ireland, or entities within ports with development plans, such as Rosslare Europort and the Port of Cork, can play a significant role in providing the required large-scale port infrastructure for those deployments. The policy specifically mentions, for example, Shannon Foynes Port and the Port of Cork, or entities within those ports. They can also play a significant part in the provision of the required large-scale port infrastructure for floating ORE.

In order to maximise the EU funding opportunities the Department has engaged extensively with the Commission to advocate for the inclusion of funding for port infrastructure required for ORE under the CEF. Ports are again engaging and applying for that funding and the Department is working with them. This is a competitive process and it is generally oversubscribed but the Department assists the eligible applicants with this application process.

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