Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action he is taking to ensure offshore windfarms can be built and maintained from ports on the east, south and west coasts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52889/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The primary function of our state ports is to facilitate maritime transport which is the most important means of connecting Ireland to international markets, accounting for more than 90% of Ireland’s international trade, in volume terms. At the same time, it is recognised that there is a pressing need for Ireland to have the port capacity in place to exploit the opportunities presented by Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), with the EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy proposing at least 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050, the Programme for Government targeting a capacity of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 and 30GW thereafter of floating offshore wind power in deeper waters in the Atlantic.

The Department of Transport in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office is currently engaging with the ORE sector to assess the options for our ports to facilitate the ORE sector and assist Ireland achieving its emission reduction targets.

As part of the ongoing assessment of requirements the Department/IMDO has been engaging throughout 2021 with the individual companies, Wind Energy Ireland, Eirgrid and stakeholders in the ORE sector to ascertain their needs and intentions and to facilitate further discussions with the Ports. Cross departmental engagement between Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications and Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also been ongoing. The Department/IMDO have also met with other ports and administrations to establish best practice in this regard in Europe.

As part of endeavours to maximise EU funding, the Department engaged extensively with other Member States and the Commission advocating for inclusion of funding for ORE required port infrastructure under TEN-t and CEF and successfully obtained changes to the CEF criteria to allow EU funding of port infrastructure for ORE in the next 2021-2023 funding stream.

This is significant and a clear recognition of the vital role that ports will play in the achievement of carbon reduction through wind energy and a sign that the EU is committed to supporting the development of ORE port infrastructure. Successful applicants can obtain significant funding of up to 50% of eligible costs for studies and up 30% of infrastructure works costs.

There will be three calls for applications in this period and the Department of Transport is currently engaging with ports to assist, where appropriate, in applying for this funding. There currently are potential applicants on the east coast, south/south west coast and on the west coast.

The Department also held an open information day on 21st October 2021 to assist potential applicants. The Commission and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency presented as did one of the State Port Companies having been a successful applicant for funding for port infrastructure previously. There was a high level of attendance from interested parties seeking to make applications.