David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am looking for an update from the Government on what plans it has to upgrade development at the ports at Rosslare Europort and Waterford. It is coincidental that today we heard a very positive announcement regarding the building of a state-of-the-art facility by Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited at Belview, which is around the Port of Waterford, that will create about 70 jobs directly and potentially up to 1,600 jobs in the region through increased dairy production. Obviously, that is great news.

One of the reasons I raised this matter is the need to look at the potential of the Port of Waterford and Rosslare Europort. I appreciate that there has been a review of ports across the State but there is a concern in Wexford and the south east that we need to move the management of Rosslare Europort away from CIE and towards a more independent port authority. That makes sense. There is also a sense that we need to look at how we can improve operations at the port. Rosslare Europort is the largest roll-on, roll-off port in this State and is hugely important to the south east. The Port of Waterford is equally important to the economy of Waterford and the south east and I would like to find out what the Government's plans are.

I know that proposals have been made to deepen one of the berths at Rosslare and potentially in Waterford Port, too. Is that being considered? Is it a possibility? Have feasibility studies been carried out?

Does the Minister of State accept that Rosslare Europort, a roll-on roll-off port, and the Port of Waterford, a load-on load-off port, are very important to the regional economy? They are strategic assets. If the south east is to capitalise on its potential and create the jobs it needs, we will have to get the best from the assets we have. There is no doubt that we need to put in place infrastructure across the region such as roads and wastewater treatment facilities. That is important, but it is equally important to look at existing assets in the region and these two ports are key examples. There is a sense in the region that we can get more from both. That will require investment, a strategic vision and policy changes and, in the case of Wexford and Rosslare, it will and should mean an independent port authority to manage the ports and be involved in putting in place a strategic plan for them. I will listen to the Minister of State's reply and thank him for coming into the Seanad.