Planning permission for the €52 million first phase of the Galway Harbour redevelopment and extension is to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála by the end of September, early October, giving hope that the dream of it becoming a major hub, attracting international cruise liners, will become a reality by 2018.
The positive prognosis was given by CEO of Galway Harbour Company, Eamon Bradshaw who in his presentation to Galway City Council on Monday evening told councillors that he was confident the project will get full planning permission within the next 12 months.
“It has been eight years in the making. It’s been painful, stressful, but at least we got there. The port could not prosper in its current physical form, it has to change. We’re non competitive at the moment, it’s important to become that as there is new business coming into the port. I believe we have the means to develop the port.
“We ask the council for its continued support. Hopefully, in 12 months we will be saying ‘yes, we got the planning’ and by 2018 you will all be there to witness the opening,” said Mr Bradshaw, who further explained that the first phase of the project will include the port extension and the removal of the commercial exports and imports from the city centre.
Chairman of Galway Harbour Board, Paul Carey, told the chamber: “We had to cut the cloth to match the economy. There has been a working port in Galway for 800 years and it is important that this continues.
“Exports and imports have increased significantly for the first time since 2006. This is the best option for sustainability of this port development and for it to prosper and put Galway on the map for the next 800 years
