The €25m investment in a Deep Water Berth facility at Ros an Mhíl harbour in Connemara could be a gamechanger in terms of improving the region's capacity to service the west's wind-energy industry.
The development of the harbour will see the quayside increase by 200m and the water depth increased by 70 per cent — each of which will allow bigger fishing vessels to use the harbour.
It will also enable the servicing of the off-shore wind energy industry which in the light of climate change can see the substantial wind energy resources off the west coast benefit hundreds of thousands of homes and create thousands of much-needed jobs in the area.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue this week announced that a deep water quay facility is to be built at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhíl, Galway. The project will be funded through the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. He spoke afterwards about the potential that can now be realised by the investment.
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“Our Fishery Harbour Centres are critical to the seafood industry and Ros an Mhíl is a clear example of how these facilities stimulate economic activity for the surrounding rural coastal communities.
"Today’s announcement is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of Brexit on the sector and to a strong future for Ireland’s seafood primary producers," he said.
In 2020 just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the Fishery Harbour Centres. At Ros an Mhíl these landings were primarily from Irish vessels and valued at €7m. The deep-water quay announced this week will provide an additional 200m of quayside and over 70% greater depth to accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels.
More quayside
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At present the Harbour has 325m of quayside but is limited in deep water to a maximum of -5.8m chart datum and experiences congestion in busy fishing seasons. An additional 4Ha of land with laydown/development potential will be added to the Harbour Centre as part of the works. The new facilities will bring Ros an Mhíl closer in line with those available in Killybegs and Castletownbere.
The Minister praised the commitment of local stakeholders to the project. “When I visited last October I was impressed by the ambitions held here in the local community for Ros an Mhíl. There is huge potential for downstream development and jobs when this project comes on line and I have every confidence that this opportunity will be embraced and harnessed for the benefit of Connemara.”
Planning permission for the project was received in 2017. The Department will now proceed with procurement for detailed design of the quay with a view to tendering for construction later in the year. The project is anticipated to cost up to €25m excluding VAT, but the exact costing will only be clear when detailed design work is complete and an open tendering competition has taken place. It is expected that the construction work will take up to 28 months to complete.
Údarás na Gaeltachta welcomed the €25m investment announced by Minister Charlie McConalogue T.D., and the Government today.
"This is a major infrastructural investment in the Gaeltacht and the development will provide the entire country with a fantastic opportunity to benefit from the renewable energy resources available off the west coast of the country.
Strategic hub
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Following a report commissioned by Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2021, the announcement recognises the suitability of Ros an Mhíl in the Galway Gaeltacht as a prime location for an increased fishing harbour, but more importantly, for the development of a strategic hub to support the floating offshore wind sector with the potential to create up to 900 jobs in the industry.
The report, compiled by Dublin Offshore Consultants, identified that Ros an Mhíl Harbour’s proximity to offshore projects and a deep sea berth would provide an opportunity to get into the offshore wind industry market, a market which is cost effective and also timely in that it also addresses climate change. Ros an Mhíl also benefits from a substantial land bank which is owned by both Údarás na Gaeltachta and the DAFM.
The development of this deep sea berth will be the foundation on which the realisation of the report is based and today’s announcement by the Government is a huge step forward.
Anna Ní Ghallachair, Chairperson of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta stated that this was a significant announcement not only for the Gaeltacht but for the entire country.
"This development provides Ireland with a wonderful opportunity to benefit from the substantial renewable energy resources off the west coast and the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta warmly welcomes today’s announcement by Minister McConalogue and the Government.
"This strategic development hub will create significant investment in the area, enhancing community life, creating employment and reducing the impact of climate change. We look forward to working closely with all our stakeholders and the local community in particular in realising the opportunities that will become available and to bring continued sustainable investment to the Gaeltacht.”
Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Chief Executive Officer said that this deep sea berth will greatly enhance the Galway Gaeltacht’s business infrastructure, providing employment opportunities as well as developing opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Endless opportunities
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"There is a huge wind energy resource off the west coast which will assist with the country’s climate change efforts – as indicated in the report published by ourselves last year. This vast project will provide endless opportunities for this historic harbour and the surrounding area whilst boosting the local economy and businesses and we hope to support this in the future as opportunities in relation to developing the organisation’s land close to the site are developed.”
"Údarás na Gaeltachta is working hand in hand with the community and the harbour development committee to ensure that the Harbour will have the opportunity to attain every possible benefit from appropriate sectors in future and that the appropriate basic infrastructure is available in the area to that end. An Ghaeltacht Ghlas (Green Gaeltacht ) forms an important part of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025.
"The organisation is committed to doing its part in reducing our carbon footprint in our activities and in the activities of our clients and in the Gaeltacht community. The development of Ros an Mhíl as a strategic hub to support the offshore wind industry will facilitate this. Údarás na Gaeltachta has long recognised Ros na Mhíl as a strategic resource, where possibilities now exist for the Harbour as a strategic national centre for marine renewable energy." he said.
The recent acquisition of Fuinneamh Sceirde, a 400MW offshore wind farm, by Green Investment Group illustrates the soon to be future of the offshore wind energy market in the region.
