Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

484. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recent announcement about a ferry (details supplied) closing its services in September 2018 in view of his comments that Rosslare Europort was of strategic importance. [31161/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Irish ferries is a private commercial company and the services operated by the company are market driven. The Irish Ferries Rosslare Europort–Cherbourg service will be suspended in September 2018 and it will operate on a seasonal basis thereafter between April and September, catering for peak tourism demand. The Irish Ferries vessel the Epsilon operates all year on its Dublin to Cherbourg route. In Rosslare, the Irish Ferries vessel the Isle of Inishmore will continue to operate a twice daily service from Rosslare to Pembroke.

Stena Line operates ferry services twice daily between Rosslare and Fishguard on the vessel Stena Europe.  In March 2014 they also acquired the Rosslare Cherbourg ferry service from Celtic Link. They operate one ship, the Stena Horizon, on the route with a capacity for up to 1000 passengers, 200 cars and 120 freight units on its three return weekly sailings.

Rosslare Europort remains of National Strategic Importance. The port is recognised as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2) in National Ports Policy along with the Port of Waterford. The port is also recognised at a European level through its inclusion in the ‘comprehensive network’ in the Ten-T Regulation.

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. 

The Deputy may wish to note that Iarnród Éireann has advised that it has completed a commercial review of Rosslare Europort and is currently in the process of preparing a detailed business plan for the port, to include consideration of the implications of Brexit.