Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of future planning discussions and meetings that have taken place within his Department from 2019 to date with port companies and local authorities in counties Louth and Meath in relation to the development of ports in the areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1658/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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For the purposes of this question, I am focusing on Drogheda Port Company, ownership of which was transferred to Louth County Council in 2017. Oversight of the company now rests with Louth County Council.

Since December 2019, officials from my Department met with officials from the port company on two occasions to discuss the Bremore project. These meetings discussed the consent processes that will be needed to progress the project and possible sources of funding for the project.

In December 2020, the port company announced plans to develop a new deepwater facility at Bremore Head. The granting of planning permission for the project is a matter for the port company and its partners to pursue through the planning process. My Department has no function in this matter. All other consent requirements will be progressed by the port company in conjunction with Louth County Council. Where issues of national ports policy arise, my Department will, of course, engage with the company and the local authority, as appropriate.