A draft policy on the future development of Ireland’s ports has identified the need for “additional port capacity” on the east coast in the coming decades.
The revised draft National Ports Policy, which looks at the governance and future development of Ireland’s State-owned commercial port network, was published today.
The policy review is being progressed by the Department of Transport with the objective of presenting a new policy to Government this year, “following a thorough and inclusive consultation”.
It aims to ensure international connectivity in a sustainable manner and implements commitments in the Programme for Government to support investment in commercial and passenger port infrastructure, supporting offshore renewable energy development and ensuring ports have the future capacity to meet the needs of the economy.
An eight-week public consultation on the policy opened today.
Additional port capacity post-2040
Nineteen wide-ranging objectives are included in the policy.
One of them deals with strategic development, and states that the immediate focus of the commercial State port network should be the “maximisation of utilisation and expansion of the port companies’ assets”.
It says the port network should also require “master planning for significant additional capacity post-2040 on the east coast of the country”.
In 2024, the Department of Transport commissioned the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) to review demand and capacity requirements of the State’s commercial ports, with a view to developing a roadmap for future growth after 2040.
The report, which the Department received last year, concluded that if the economy continues on its current trajectory, providing “adequate capacity through the current ports’ network would be extremely challenging towards the latter half of the century”.
The draft policy says it is clear that additional port capacity “equivalent to a new port” will be required on the east coast of the country post-2040.
The IMDO report also noted that current masterplan proposals to expand the capacity of commercial State ports will not be enough to cater for the extra growth in trade that is expected to come when Dublin Port reaches its projected capacity limits in 2040.
“It is therefore important that any proposal for a new port development is expedited to ensure that national port capacity continues to meet demand”.
The draft policy said that any new port development would have to align with Government policy. These include objectives to ensure sustainable development, balanced regional development.
They would also have to meet the Programme for Government objective to “support investments to facilitate offshore renewable energy development including constructing, maintaining and servicing renewable infrastructure, with a regionally balanced approach”.
Bremore Ireland Port
Following the publication of this draft policy, the companies behind proposals for a new deepwater port on the Co Meath coast say it paves the way for Bremore Ireland Port.
Drogheda Port Company and Ronan Group Real Estate said they will now progress their plans through environmental and planning processes through Meath County Council and the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority.
The partners say they believe the new policy “provides a clear strategic pathway for the project to proceed”.
Bremore Ireland Port would be the first new deepwater port on the east coast in over a century, and it’s claimed the Port would address “critical port capacity deficits that threaten Ireland’s future competitiveness as a trading nation”.
The companies say the long-term vision is for Bremore Ireland Port to become an “internationally significant logistics hub, a centre for offshore renewable energy/green hydrogen production, and a cornerstone project in delivering Ireland’s climate objectives”.
Drogheda Port Company Group Chief Executive Paul Fleming said the policy is a “landmark moment for Ireland’s maritime and trading future”.
“The explicit support for the development of a new east coast deepwater port underscores the national importance of the Bremore Ireland Port project”
Rory Williams, Chief Executive of Ronan Group Real Estate, said that the project would create new employment, support balanced regional development and reduce commuting pressures on the northeast.
Bremore Ireland Port is launching a community engagement programme and has appointed a community liaison officer to engage with communities through the planning and development process.
‘Critical National Assets’
The revised draft policy was published by Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State with responsibility for Ports, Seán Canney.
Approximately 90% of all goods traded by Ireland pass through the commercial port network here.
The Department of Transport said a revised approach is now needed to support ports in dealing with environmental, technological, demographic and geopolitical challenges in the next decade and beyond.
Minister Daragh O’Brien said the policy sets out the updated policy framework for the State-owned commercial port sector.
“Ports are crucial to our economic well-being and a key enabler of our renewable energy future.”
He said the revised version builds on the last policy from 2013.
“The revision also sets out a new roadmap to ensure that our ports continue to develop the infrastructure required to support Ireland’s trade and sustainability goals into the future.”
Minister Sean Canney said ports are “critical national assets”, which support trade, connectivity, regional development and a transition to a “more sustainable economy”.
A consultation seeking public feedback on the policy was also launched today, and will remain open for the next eight weeks.
This is the second public consultation on the National Ports Policy.