Minsters have welcomed the €11 million in co-funding for transport projects in Ireland under the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) which will support two port-related schemes.

As reported earlier on Afloat.ie, Irish Rail will receive €2.5 million for studies in respect of the potential to develop facilities at Rosslare Europort to support offshore renewable energy (ORE) operators in the Irish and Celtic Seas.

Doyle Shipping Group will also receive €2.5 million for its own studies informing the consideration of the redevelopment and expansion of the existing port facilities in Cork, with a view to supporting the deployment of ORE.

Welcoming the announcement on Thursday (22 June), Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said: “This funding will support the development of safer and more sustainable transport infrastructure as well as the development of the offshore renewable energy industry in Ireland.”

Minister of State Jack Chambers added: “I want to thank the EU for this support. This CEF funding will assist in developing strategic road, rail and maritime infrastructure for the future. It demonstrates the significant financial support from the EU for the development of our transport systems.”

Speaking about the Irish CEF project selection, European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said: “Ports have an essential role to play in the future sustainable EU transport system. This is why the CEF program already supports and will continue to support them.

“I am pleased that with this selection under the Connecting Europe Facility, we are able to assist the ports of Cork and Rosslare in their infrastructure developments and to contribute to their green transition efforts by developing offshore wind energy projects.”

In the south-east Rosslare Europort has been named today as a direct port recipient in Ireland of securing EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding in the latest CEF call down.

In what is a major boost and vote of confidence by the EU in the Rosslare Europort Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) project, the €2.5 million funding secured will support the project’s full design and planning application processes.

Rosslare Europort is Ireland’s best geographically located port to provide the required infrastructure to meet the requirements of the planned Offshore Wind Farms in the Irish and Celtic Seas and ensure that Ireland can deliver on its 2030 renewable energy targets.

The ORE facility at the port, which will be the first of its kind in the State, will include the construction of two new additional berths of between 240 metres and 330 metres in length, 20+ hectares of ORE quay side space, and a dredging program to create a nine metre access channel with berth pocket depths of up to twelve metres.

Glenn Carr Director of Commercial Business Units for Iarnród Éireann - Port Authority for Rosslare Europort - said “We are delighted to be the port in Ireland that was successful in what was a heavily oversubscribed competition for EU grant funding across Europe. It is testament to our ambitious plans that we have been successful in this call down and we now push forward in collaboration with all stakeholders to delivers Irelands first ORE facility and hub.

It is essential that the Rosslare Europort Offshore Wind facility be built and operational to meet the windfarm developments that are planned and support Ireland to deliver on its 2030 targets. We are committed to delivering this project which will be transformational for the Southeast and create many social and economic benefits for the county, region and country for decades to come.”

Feedback from the EU Commission on the Rosslare Europort ORE project included “will positively impact the competitiveness of the port towards the ORE industry and will result to socio-economic benefits including emissions reduction, multiplier effect, employment or development of the South East Region..... CEF funding will accelerate the project implementation, improve the quality of project implementation and will contribute to positive stakeholder support confirming EU support of the ORE industry.”

Investment Plan Rosslare ORE HUB

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub development at Rosslare Europort will be the first of its kind in a port within the Republic of Ireland. Representing a €220M investment, this world class facility will provide the ORE industry with the necessary port infrastructure to support the many Wind Farm projects planned for the Irish and Celtic Seas.

Additional Investment Plans at the port comprise Port, OPW and road infrastructure developments including:

• Rosslare Europort Masterplan, including port digitalisation: These works will reflect its status as Ireland’s Gateway to Europe and will include new freight and passenger facilities, storage, export and import facilities, berth extension. Matching the port’s physical transformation, a digitalisation of systems and operations is also planned which will deliver a better, more effective and more efficient Port
• Office of Public Works Project T7, to develop a permanent Border Control Post within the port, to provide the facilities and systems for all aspects of Border Control
• New TII N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road will ensure a better experience for port users and enhance quality of life for those living and working in the area by taking trucks out of the village and improving access and connectivity to the port.

In total, these developments will see a total of €350 million invested in the port and its environs.