€200m new city port will create hundreds of jobs

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Around 300 new jobs could be created in the construction phase of the new €200 million Galway Port, with a further 300 jobs when the facility is up and running.

Galway Harbour Company said it there was an “incredible response” to two special public consultation meetings at the weekend, with around 500 people attending.

Meanwhile, the Harbour Company is set to lobby political parties ahead of the General Election for funding support for Phase One of the development, which will have a total cost of €50m.

Eamon Bradshaw, CEO of the Harbour Board told the Sentinel: “There was an incredible response. We expected maybe around 50 people over the two days, and 500 people turned up. When I arrived on Saturday morning, there was a queue outside.He also said he was fully confident of cruise liners docking at the new port by 2015.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive. People are saying it will be great for Galway and just wondering can we not just hurry up and get on with it!

“We have to find €50m for Phase One and would hope we could secure 50% of that from Government, although the current Port Policy Statement means capital funding is not available for any port in Ireland.

“We hope for a change to be made . . . this development will be a huge boost for tourism in the West of Ireland and the economy as a whole, as well as to the Exchequer through VAT and taxes.

“Also, during construction, around 300 jobs would be created, and 200 to 300 when it’s completed, so there it’s a very significant project,” said Mr Bradshaw.

The Harbour Company plans to sell off ‘non-core’ properties, such as the contract carpark at the Docks, secure direct investment and will consider Public Private Partnership contracts to carry out the development.

Read more in this week's Connacht Sentinel