The decision of the EU Transport Council in Brussels to include the Port of Galway on the revised Trans-European Transport Network Regulation and therefore eligible for massive EU funding paves the way for the development of the facility to be a major player in the renewable energy industry.
The agreement, announced in Brussels will see the Port of Galway included in the European TEN-T Network for the first time.
For Ireland, the new Regulation will mean that upgrading intercity and regional rail lines on the TEN-T network, developing our main Ports, linking key infrastructure such as Dublin Airport to rail, developing multi-modal freight terminals, and better integrating local and national transport infrastructure in the designated Urban Nodes on the network of Dublin, Cork and now Galway, will all be eligible to apply for funding under the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility.
Welcoming the deal, Minister Hildegarde Naughton said she is delighted with the decision. “The Port of Galway was excluded from the original list of TEN-T ports in 2013, which greatly reduced the capacity of the port to attract investment for its much-needed expansion plans. Today’s decision, which has to be ratified by the European Parliament, rights that wrong and will ensure that Galway and its port will thrive into the future,” she said.
She met with Transport Commissioner V?lean last year to emphasise the importance of TEN-T status for the Port of Galway and its mission to support offshore energy.
“I met her again today to express my thanks for her support and to ensure that this proposal now passes through the European Parliament as speedily as possible,” she added.
“The issue here was the insistence that a port must already be handling significant tonnage or passenger numbers before being eligible for the highest category of European Funding, TEN-T. That metric is completely outdated and prevented ports with scope for expansion, such as in Galway, from competing for necessary funds.
“I am glad to say that negotiations have now resulted in a recognition that Galway, with plans to develop and support renewable energy schemes, will now be eligible for the most significant European funding,” Minister Naughton said.
