A study on "Evaluation of projects for Ireland's unit load port capacity requirement to 2014 and beyond" is to include Drogheda Ports new Deepwater Port development at Bremore Co Fingal.

Minister for state at the Department of Marine Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher recently outlined new initiatives being undertaken by the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources to ensure that Irish Ports retain their competitiveness and posses the capacity to meet rising demand.

“With one or two possible exceptions, the internal resources of our commercial ports are not sufficient to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. This represents a significant challenge, as there is no doubt that additional capacity is required at our ports over the coming years,” said Minister Gallagher.

To that end the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources has recently appointed consultants, Fisher Associates, to advise the Department on:

• Refining the criteria to be used for project evaluation of new infrastructure projects in ports;

• Drawing up a uniform template for submission of detailed project proposals from port companies to the Department;

• Assessing the scope for efficiencies of scale within existing areas of ports handling trade and;

• Evaluating the projects submitted by port companies with a view to submitting recommendations to Government.

“This process is an important step in ensuring that our ports can handle the volume of trade moving through them today and into the future. As a maritime nation ports are our lifeline and the trade that moves through them is the lifeblood of the nation. It is vital that they have infrastructure in place to provide this service to the economy,” continued Minister Gallagher.

The Minister also stressed that: “Following a rigorous analysis of the proposals received from this process, to submit those projects that are best suited to developing infrastructure in our ports for Government approval. I am confident that this process will ensure that we can submit the proposals in early 2006,” concluded Minister Gallagher.