Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the announcement of €3million funding from the EU for development works in Foynes Port. The funding comes from the EU’s Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) and will be used on the construction of the East Jetty in the Port together with support for a feasibility study on the use of the railway line into the Port.
“This is fantastic news for Co. Limerick and is a huge investment in the port. It is one of 276 projects which has been funded across the European Union totalling over €13billion and it represents a major vote of confidence in the Shannon Foynes Port Company.”
Patrick O’Donovan who is a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee said that the announcement which will support up to 60 jobs in the construction of the jetty comes at a very important time for the port.
“Since this Government came to office we have prioritised the development of Foynes Port and as the only Limerick member of the Transport Committee I have always pushed the case for Foynes. I make no apology for the fact that since I became a TD I have been a strong advocate for the development of Foynes Port because I recognise the potential of the Port and the Shannon Estuary to drive economic growth and job creation in Co. Limerick. This strategy has worked, and this TEN-T funding will drive that progress even further.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that announcement of this investment came as a result of the Government decision to make Foynes a port of Strategic National Importance with Dublin and Cork. This means that Foynes is the only strategic port on the West Coast of Ireland and has a very important role in the development of the Mid-West and the West. He said that Board, Management and Staff in the Port Company had driven the development and the progress in the harbour and deserved to be congratulated.
He paid tribute to his Fine Gael colleague Deirdre Clune MEP, a member of the European Parliament Transport Committee who he said made strong representations on behalf of Foynes. He added that this strong working relationship at National and European level can bring benefits to Co. Limerick.