Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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667. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has formally discussed with his European counterparts the prospect of more direct maritime links between Ireland and continental Europe; if so, the details of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7122/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I have met a number of my counterparts in relation to direct maritime connectivity to continental ports.

I met my French counterpart, Minister Elisabeth Borne, on Brexit matters in Dublin on 23 November 2018. I highlighted the importance of transport connectivity and Ireland’s concerns in particular in relation to the continued use of the UK landbridge when the UK leaves the EU. We discussed also the potential implications for ports both in Ireland and in France given the levels of trade that both of our countries have with the UK. Minister Borne shared many of my concerns and said that France, like Ireland, was preparing for all scenarios, including facilitation of EU and Irish traffic at Calais.

In May 2018, I met both Professor Péter Balázs, the EU Coordinator for the North-Sea Mediterranean TEN-T Corridor, and Brian Simpson, the EU Coordinator for the Motorways of the Sea programme. Brexit and maritime connectivity was a key point on the agenda and we discussed their views in particular in relation to CEF and Motorways of the Sea funding and opportunities. Both Coordinators were cognisant of the unique challenges facing Ireland as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

In October 2017, I met the EU Transport Commissioner, Ms Violeta Bulc, during her visit to Ireland and raised with her Ireland's concerns in relation to the implications of Brexit for transport and connectivity.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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668. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has assessed the capacity of Irish ships to take additional freight, both load on and load off and roll-on roll-off; if so, the details of this assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7123/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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My Department has assessed the maritime capacity for direct sailings between Ireland and continental EU ports as a potential alternative route for trade currently using the Landbridge. Based on consultations with the shipping sector and wider, the preliminary assessment is that sufficient capacity will be available on direct routes to continental ports from end March 2019.

I briefed Government on this in January 2019 and indicated that I will keep the matter under review, in light of the evolving situation, and revert to Government with a further report before the end of February.

There are four shipping lines operating direct services from Irish ports to the Continent offering up to 20 crossings per week. Over 20 shipping operators provide scheduled shipping services from Ireland. This includes four companies providing year round scheduled passenger services between Ireland and the UK and France.

Shipping services are market driven and ferry operators have in the past responded to economic developments and increased or decreased capacity in response to these developments.

There have already been responses from the shipping Companies. CLdN launched a new 234m Ro-Ro freight ferry, the M.V. Celine, with a capacity of 8,000 lane metres on the Rotterdam-Zeebrugge-Dublin route in October 2017. The Port of Cork saw the addition of a new route in May 2018 with Brittany Ferries’ commencing the service to Santander and Roscoff with the Connemara, whose capacity is 27,414 GT. The deployment of the Irish Ferries ferry, W B Yeats, on the Dublin-Cherbourg route will add significant capacity to this route. The Company has also ordered a second larger ship for delivery in 2020 which will further increase its freight capacity.