Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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742. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to publish statutory instruments designating Dún Laoghaire and Galway ports as ports of regional significance; if so, when he will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17671/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Dún Laoghaire and Galway Ports are designated as Ports of Regional Significance since 2013, when National Ports Policy was published.  National Ports Policy introduced clear categorisation of the ports sector into Ports of National Significance (Tier 1), Ports of National Significance (Tier 2) and Ports of Regional Significance.

The Tier 1 Ports of National Significance are ports that are responsible for 15-20% of overall tonnage through Irish ports. Three ports fulfil this criterion: Dublin Port Company, the Port of Cork Company and Shannon Foynes Port Company.

The Tier 2 Ports of National Significance ( Waterford and Rosslare Europort) are ports that are responsible for at least 2.5% of overall tonnage through Irish ports.

Dún Laoghaire and Galway Ports do not satisfy the criteria for categorisation as Tier 1 or Tier 2 Ports of National Significance, as their tonnage figures do not reach the required level.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) provides yearly details of tonnage of goods handled by Irish Ports.  The latest figures available can be accessed on their website via the link attached:

www.cso.ie/multiquicktables/quickTables.aspx?id=tba07.