James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a possible development of a free-zone at Rosslare Europort, Rosslare, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28347/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department was first informed about this suggestion by Rosslare Europort in late July 2020 when the Company forwarded a short document to my Department on the development potential for available lands adjacent to Rosslare Europort which included a suggestion that a Free Zone area could be located there as well as at the port itself.

The issue is therefore at the very early stage concept as any formal proposal would have to have a comprehensive business case setting out the analysis, pros and cons, etc.

The development of a Free Zone would be a matter falling within the broad area of industrial policy and would require liaison with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in the first instance, who have responsibility for industrial policy (including the Shannon Free Zone located adjacent to Shannon Airport) as well as with the Department of Finance.

My Department is happy to continue to engage with Rosslare Europort in relation to its development of a business proposal for a free zone at Rosslare, and to assist in the examination of the issue to determine what would be involved in such designation and the benefits, if any, that would accrue from same.