A 30-year masterplan for Dublin Port was unveiled today (Wednesday), showing an investment of over €600 million to develop the port and double its throughput.
The Masterplan for Dublin Port sets out the framework for the long-term development of Ireland’s largest and most important port and follows a year-long consultation with business, community, industry and government stakeholders.
Dublin Port Company will finance the plan and has already committed to investing €110m over the first five years, starting this year. In economic terms, it will mean Dublin Port Company will be able to handle 60 million tonnes of goods by 2040, double its current throughput, based on a modest assumed growth of 2.5% per year.
The Masterplan, launched by Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, TD, has been founded on three principles – maximising the use of existing land, reintegrating the port with the city and developing the port to the highest environmental standards.
Among the first projects identified is the building of a dedicated car storage compound to free up valuable quay-side space. Another major initiative is the construction of a new cruise facility accommodating over 135,000 passengers and nearly 90 cruise liners each season and Dublin Port Company has formed Cruise Dublin, a joint scheme with Dublin’s City Council and Chamber of Commerce to further develop the cruise trade in the city.
The Masterplan has also indentified the potential for rail freight to grow over the next 30 years using Dublin Port’s direct rail connections to all major train stations in Ireland. There are also plans for a visitor centre to show Dubliners the history of the port and to provide an insight into its workings.
Mr Varadkar said at the launch: “This is a comprehensive plan for the long-term development of Dublin Port on its current site. As Ireland’s most important port, Dublin Port is a vital part of our national infrastructure. It has a significant role to play in growing exports, growing jobs, and also in growing tourism, with 87 cruise ships calling last year. This Masterplan follows a detailed consultation process and will ensure that Dublin Port continues to make a real contribution to the local economy and to our export-led recovery.”
Lucy McCaffrey, Chairwoman of Dublin Port Company, said: “While the impetus for producing this Masterplan has been to provide Dublin Port Company and all its stakeholders with a clear view as to how Dublin Port will develop over the next 30 years, we have endeavoured to strike a balance between the economic needs of the city and improving the aesthetics of the port and better integrating it with the city.”
