Dublin Port Company unveils new masterplan

Over the next 30 years, based on even the most conservative estimates, Dublin Port will need to double its throughput to handle 60m tons per annum and ensure it can continue its vital role in sustaining economic competitiveness and job creation, servicing Ireland’s export and import trade.

A public consultation process, which will continue until 31st May 2011, will involve a series of stakeholder meetings at every level, including customers, business groups, statutory bodies and local councils. A detailed ‘Issues Paper’ has been developed and submissions are being sought from all those with an interest in the future development of the Port and of Dublin city. The full Masterplan will be published by the end of the year and will form the basis of future developments at the Port.

Dublin Port Company chief executive Eamonn O’Reilly explained that the port currently brings in over half the goods Ireland imports and is again approaching capacity constraints. ‘Dublin Port has not added any new land in the last 30 years and in that time we have quadrupled the volume of goods going through it, he said. ‘We now handle €35bn per annum in trade going in and out of the Port and will easily double our volumes again by 2040.

‘We need to grow, in a way which better integrates the Port with the city and which contributes substantially to improve both the natural and built environments. However, how we do all of this needs to be tempered and modulated by the needs of the city and its citizens. Hence, we are launching this consultation exercise.’

Speaking at the launch of the consultation process, Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport said a new plan for Dublin Port is vital to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the economy, and will play an important role in building national competitiveness, securing overseas investment and supporting tourism.

Among the issues to be examined in the consultation process are current and future land use within the 261hectares port estate; maximising Dublin Port’s position at the hub of Ireland’s road and rail networks; how Dublin Port links to and interfaces with the rest of the city; environmental and sustainability priorities; and the identification and securing of new lands for development of port facilities.