Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made to date in updating the State’s port policy in view of the increasing importance of port capacity for the offshore and onshore wind energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28696/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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A port capacity study is currently underway and is due for completion shortly.  Upon its finalisation a full review of National Ports Policy will commence later this year which will look at the overall ports policy framework.

As I informed the Deputy towards the end of 2021, given Ireland’s increased ambition in the area of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) and pending a review of overall National Ports Policy later this year, the Department of Transport, in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), conducted an assessment of the options for Irish State ports to facilitate the sector and assist in Ireland achieving its emission reduction targets. Following the assessment, last December I announced an ORE Ports Policy Statement setting out the strategy for a multi-port approach to the provision of port facilities.

A number of ports will be required to provide facilities for the different activities at several locations around the country and at different times for the various phases of the fixed and floating ORE developments. This will maximise the economic benefits at both regional and national level in terms of job creation and new SME enterprises in areas such as engineering, fabrication, transport and logistics, and other technologies.

A multiport approach will ultimately allow investments that are commercially viable in the long-term progress without undermining the ability of any port to meet its primary obligations in relation to the facilitation of international trade.

For the Deputy's information, a copy of the Policy Statement on the facilitation of Offshore Renewable Energy by Commercial Ports in Ireland can be accessed at the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/8f40e-policy-statement-on-the-facilitation-of-offshore-renewable-energy-by-commercial-ports-in-ireland/.