Drogheda Port Company welcomes the publication and key recommendations in relation to infrastructure of the Report of the Enterprise Strategy Group.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney has launched the Report of the Enterprise Strategy Group, prepared under the Chairmanship of Mr. Eoin O ’Driscoll.

The Enterprise Strategy Group was appointed by the Tánaiste to prepare an enterprise strategy for growth and employment in Ireland up to the year 2015. The Group's report 'Ahead of the Curve, Ireland's Place in the Global Economy' presents an analysis of Ireland's recent and current enterprise performance, reviews international enterprise trends and perspectives and identifies important steps to underpin Ireland's successful transition to a new phase of enterprise development.

The report presents the principal challenges to enterprise development in Ireland today, identifies new areas of opportunity and highlights the key actions required to deliver sustainable enterprises and continuing growth in the decade ahead.

One of the key recommendations relates to our national infrastructure which includes our national port infrastructure.

(report extract)
Infrastructure

The recent expansion and strong performance of the enterprise sector has exposed and created deficiencies in Ireland ’s physical infrastructure, and these add substantially to business costs and impair efficiency. They also affect business decisions regarding investment and location.

A recommendation of the group is to

Invest in infrastructure ahead of demand in key locations. Investment should be prioritised in National Spatial Strategy (NSS)designated gateways and hubs to enable them to achieve their regional potential.

Under the National Spatial Strategy Drogheda Port is identified as an essential part of the east coast central shipping hub which also includes Dun Laoghaire and Dublin.

In the report it is noted that our sea ports are essential for external trade and that improved access to Drogheda Port and to ports in Northern Ireland would improve logistical efficiency.

Mr Paul Fleming, Chief Executive, comments that ‘the recommendations of the report could provide an important framework in maintaining the economic success which this country has enjoyed over the past decade and it is particularly important that our national port infrastructure remains ahead of the curve in terms of capacity. There is tremendous opportunity for Drogheda Port to continue grow and create employment and address existing national capacity deficits’.

Full report text: www.forfas.ie

Paul Fleming Chief Executive

www.droghedaport.ie