The application is being made under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act and follows a twelve month consultation with industry, government, customer and community stakeholders. Local information centres will be open over the coming weeks with details of the proposal plans on view. The ABR Project involves an application to An Bord Pleanála for permission for phased redevelopment work on some of Dublin Port’s existing infrastructure. Some 42% of Dublin Port’s berths (3km of the port’s 7km) will be lengthened and deepened and the 10km channel from Dublin Bay to the East Link Bridge will be deepened.
It is the first large scale project under Dublin Port Company’s Masterplan 2012-2040, a framework for the future development of Dublin Port with reference to economic and trade developments set in the context of EU, national, regional and local development plan policies.
The ABR Project will cost an estimated €200 million and Dublin Port Company has the financial resources to fund the project. The engineering works will take place on a phased basis and are expected to take five years to complete, supporting some 200 construction related jobs in the process. It is further estimated that the growth in volumes which the project will facilitate will result in 320 jobs being created annually between 2012 and 2040.
Commenting on the application for Dublin Port Company’s Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project, Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company said, “Dublin Port Company’s ABR Project will give us the infrastructure, capacity and versatility needed to futureproof Dublin Port, catering for larger sized vessels and increased trade volumes as Ireland returns to economic growth. Dublin Port Company is committed to carrying out this project within our current footprint, re-developing and utilising existing port lands in the most efficient way possible, while financing the project from our own resources.
“We have engaged with Government, business and industry stakeholders, customers and local communities over the past year to help shape today’s planning application. The public can view the proposal in detail, meet members of the project team at public information days from 25th – 27th March and learn about all aspects of the project over the coming weeks”, he added.
Submissions or observations on the application may be made to An Bord Pleanála at 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, by 7th May 2014.