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For Oral Answer on : 16/05/2024
Question Number(s): 58 Question Reference(s): 21970/24
Department: Transport
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport to outline the way in which southern ports will be supported in marshalling parts and assembling turbines for offshore wind power generation in relation to the newly published draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
I am committed to facilitating the Commercial Irish State ports under my remit as positive contributors to the offshore renewable energy industry to support Ireland to meet its ambitious targets of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with a further 2GW in development for the production of green hydrogen and other non-grid uses. Supporting the development of port infrastructure is a core objective of the National Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and the Department is working very closely with the Taskforce in this regard.
In 2021, the Department of Transport published a policy statement on the facilitation of offshore renewable energy by commercial ports in Ireland. This policy statement emphasises the importance of port facilities in Ireland for ORE developments. A dedicated ORE Ports Facilitation Division has been established in the department to facilitate ports as they progress plans to service the offshore wind industry.
I welcome the recent publication of the draft South Cast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications which recognises ports as a key component within the ORE supply chain.
The presence of a significant number of strategically positioned ports, including the Port of Cork, within proximity to the South Coast of Ireland speaks to this region’s potential to become a focal point for offshore wind development. I anticipate that the development of the SC-DMAP will help establish a stable commercial environment for investments in port development by providing a transparent pipeline of proposed future fixed offshore wind projects.
The department will continue to support southern state ports through regular engagement and exploration of financing options with a view to maximising all opportunities available to Irish Commercial State ports. This includes potential financing partners such as the European Union (EU) through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
This can be evidenced by the assistance given to ports that applied for funding under the 2023 call for the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fund to further their offshore wind projects. Officials in the Department of Transport provided critical feedback and guidance on applications. If successful, ports can obtain up to 30% of costs for infrastructure or up to 50% of costs for studies. The results of the call are expected in July of 2024.
Furthermore, the Department of Transport has signed an Advisory Assignment with the European Investment Bank. The output of this work will be crucial in identifying how Irish ports will contribute to the meeting of our 2030 offshore wind targets.
An ORE Ports Co-Ordination Group has also been established by the Department to facilitate consistent engagement with key stakeholders on ports’ progress with their ORE projects. The group meets on a quarterly basis and not only allows for ports to engage directly with the department, but but other key government departments relevant to the delivery of ORE.
The Department of Transport will continue engagement with southern state ports with view to supporting their proposed developments, where appropriate.
