Cork and Dublin ports are set to receive European Union (EU) funding to support transport infrastructure projects.
The grants come from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), its programme for strategic investment in infrastructure.
Ireland will receive EUR157.5 million (USD171.4 million) for five projects. Dublin Port Company, the country’s largest port handling over 50 percent of national port tonnage, ihas been allocated EUR73.8 million (USD80.3 million) that will go towards key components of its MP2 project which will increase berth capacity to handle projected future demand for ro-ro freight.
The funding will support the construction of two inter-dependent berths, totalling 572 m, Berth 52 and Berth 53, at Terminal 5 at the eastern end of the North Port. The berths are designed to cater for the largest-in-class ro-ro vessels of up to 240 m.
The port of Cork, the second largest terminal in the state, will receive EUR38.4 million (USD41.8 million) for the construction of two quay berths at its Ringaskiddy deepwater port. This includes a 200 m extension to the existing container berth and the construction of Ringaskiddy West - Deepwater Berth Extension (DWB).
Three multi-country consortium projects that included Irish partners will receive funding, including the Clean ATM 2 and Green CNS air navigation and traffic management projects.
Minister for transport Eamon Ryan said it was good to see the award of significant CEF funding for projects at both ports.
“The port of Cork’s project will be capable of facilitating the offshore renewable energy industry with full planning permission already in place while both Dublin Port’s project and the port of Cork’s project also encompass plans for providing infrastructure for the installation of onshore power supply showing how vital they are to our energy future,” he added.
