Written answers

Thursday, 26 May 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Ports Development

Photo of James BrowneJames Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to secure the viability of Rosslare Europort in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12333/16]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Rosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports as it is not a commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann. This is due to a complicated legislative history as the port technically forms part of an Anglo-Irish company dating back to the 19th Century known as the Rosslare and Fishguard and Harbours Company.  

In 2013 my Department appointed Indecon economic consultants to conduct a strategic review of the port. That review concluded that the creation of an independent port authority for Rosslare would be extremely difficult given the legal structure of the port. Instead the report recommended that the port continue in public ownership through Iarnród Éireann, but that the possibilities for private sector involvement and management of the port should be investigated. The report and its conclusions were noted by Government and Iarnród Éireann undertook to examine further the feasibility of implementing its recommendations.

In order to assist Iarnród Éireann's overall consideration of how best to move forward, it engaged consultants in late 2015 who presented interim findings to the company in early 2016. Those findings include a number of issues which require further consideration and officials from the Department are engaging with the company on those issues with a view to a speedy resolution.

As the Deputy will know, National Ports Policy categorises the port as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2) and the port also forms part of the EU Trans-European Comprehensive Network of ports. Clearly the port is an important part of our commercial port infrastructure and I aim to ensure that it can continue to develop in line with its role within that policy framework.

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