Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline any engagement he has had with management at Waterford Port, including any plans related to upgrading the current infrastructure in the area. [30141/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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My colleague, Minister Ryan, had a number of engagements with all the port companies including Waterford Port throughout the COVID crisis and my predecessor, Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton, visited the Port of Waterford in September 2022. I intend to visit Waterford Port and engage with the company over the summer period.

Officials from my department also have regular engagement with the port company on an ongoing basis. The Port of Waterford Company is the fourth largest of the commercial port companies, a Tier 2 Port of National Significance under National Ports Policy and a Comprehensive Port on the European TEN-T network.

The Port of Waterford is a strategically important port on the South-East and while they have no infrastructure developments underway at present, I am aware that the port is intent on the expansion of both Load on Load off (LoLo) container and bulk trade due to the potential for growth on a number of fronts, including services to the renewable energy sector. The Company has advised that it intends to progress a number of infrastructure projects.

As part of its Masterplan (2020 – 2044), the Port of Waterford is proposing to develop an Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) laydown, operations and maintenance (O&M) capable berth on a 250m downstream extension to the existing wharves at the Belview Port location. This project is at a preliminary design stage and as part of this work, the Port invited all interested stakeholders to take part in a public consultation event held at the Port Offices on 20 February 2023.

The Port is also working with Irish Rail to expand rail freight activity to the Port. The development of rail freight is a key priority of Minister Ryan and I and the forthcoming All Island Strategic Rail Review will set an increased ambition for rail freight as a means of addressing congestion and emissions from road haulage over the next 30 years. To this end, I am delighted that Baxter Healthcare, Castlebar, has recently commenced shipment of product by rail, utilizing the Irish Rail freight facility at Ballina to the Port of Waterford.