Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has said that plans by Galway Port Authority to develop a commercial port and compete with Shannon Foynes for cargo business on the west coast fly in the face of national policy.
Deputy O’Donovan said that should the plans go ahead, they will necessitate massive exchequer investment in supporting infrastructure like road and rail, investment that is not available. Furthermore, the planned development, which he described as an aspiration belonging to the era of the Celtic Tiger, is unnecessary as the west coast is already well catered for from a cargo perspective by Shannon Foynes Port company and there is not a requirement for another similar facility.
The Oireachtas Transport Committee member said he supports the position been taken by the Shannon Foynes Port Company to object to the proposal and that that, as far as he is concerned, Government policy in relation to ports was made very clear in the recent past when Shannon Foynes was designated as the only Tier 1 Port of National Importance in the West of Ireland whereas Galway was designated as a Tier 3 port of regional significance. Shannon, Cork and Dublin are also designated as Ten-T ports by EU, which reinforces the Irish Government thinking.
Shannon Foynes is the largest bulk cargo port in the country and currently handles 20% of all seaborne trade in the country with almost 10 million tonnes being handled there compared to the half million tonnes being handled at Galway.
“The existing tonnages at Shannon Foynes and depth of water, which is unrivalled in a national context, available on the estuary to significantly increase its business, are among the key reasons why the Government’s designated it, along with Dublin and Cork ports, as Tier 1 facilities.
“Furthermore, Limerick County Council through the NRA has been allocated €2 million to examine ways in which the N69 road into the port can be developed and recently there has also been considerable interest in reopening the rail line which runs right into the heart to the port in Foynes. This would give Foynes an advantage which no other port in the country would be able to match and would have far reaching economic benefits for all of western sea board.
“I believe that it is not in the national interest, and certainly not in the long term interest of the exchequer, to allow plans set out by Galway to go unchallenged.
“This sort of aspiration belongs to the time of the Celtic Tiger. It is far more important for the State that we develop our assets of greatest potential in a way that delivers to the whole State, and plans of this nature do nothing to improve that.
“I believe that both ports can have a very viable future as distinct businesses. Galway has a great opportunity to grow its leisure activity, with demand from leading international cruise companies for ports to call to in Ireland on the up and Galway ideally placed to capitalise on this. On the other hand, Shannon Foynes has huge potential for growth of its cargo business.