4.4 Hinterland connections

4.4 Hinterland connections

In the cruise tourism market, a number of initiatives are under way or under consideration by different ports. National Ports Policy recognises the potential afforded by this growing market and encourages those ports to continue to work closely with relevant public and private stakeholders to ensure that the individual ports and the wider economy benefit from expected future growth in this sector.

Efficient hinterland connections are critically important to any port’s ability to facilitate large volumes of traffic. The European Commission’s Communication on a European Ports Policy, published in 2007, highlights the importance of reliable and sustainable hinterland connections as part of an integrated transport chain.

In relation to the emerging ocean energy sector, the recently published IMDO Report on Irish Ports’ Offshore Renewable Energy Services concluded that the three Ports of National Significance (Tier 1) had the greatest potential in servicing current and future demand in the offshore renewable energy sector. The report additionally identified the two Ports of National Significance (Tier 2), as well as Galway Harbour Company and Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre, as having important potential in terms of servicing future demand in this sector. National Ports Policy endorses these findings.

Such connections will also be an important feature of the revised TEN-T proposals. All TEN-T core ports must be connected to both the TEN-T core road and rail networks.

The vast majority of Ireland’s freight movements to and from ports are via road. As acknowledged in the European Commission’s White Paper, Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a Competitive and Resource-Efficient Transport System, it is likely that “freight movements over short and medium distances (below some 300km) will to a considerable extent remain on trucks” (Commission of the European Communities, 2011c).

4.3 Port master-planning

Port master-planning is in line with international best practice generally and it is consistent with policy to improve integrated planning for all modes of transport. National Ports Policy recognises strongly the desirability of this process for the long-term planning of all Ports of National Significance (Tier 1 and 2). Dublin, Cork, Shannon Foynes and Rosslare have each completed or are in the process of completing masterplans.

The interconnections between the national primary road network and the commercial port network will continue to be of primary importance. This is recognised in the recently adopted Spatial Planning and National Roads – Guidelines for Planning Authorities. These state that “the primary purpose of the national road network is to provide strategic transport links between the main centres of population and employment, including key international gateways such as the main ports and airports” (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, 2012).

Companies should engage with the relevant planning authorities to ensure that port masterplans and relevant planning and development strategies are complementary and consistent. There is potential to integrate masterplans within the existing planning hierarchy; this should be explored fully by the individual port companies and the planning authorities to ensure that the process becomes embedded into planning and development strategies and offers clarity to all stakeholders regarding the future development plans for each port.

While the completion of the Major Inter-Urban routes has had both direct and indirect benefits for all ports, a number of port hinterland connections still require attention.

The Department has conducted a number of surveys of hinterland access priorities. To inform consideration of future national primary road network development, the National Roads Authority shall consult on a regular basis with the Department’s Maritime Transport Division, as well as the individual Ports of National Significance (Tier 1 and 2), on future network developments.

National and Regional Planning Guidelines should also recognise the importance of the three categories of ports and allow for their continued development. To this end, the Department contributes as necessary to the development of Regional Planning Guidelines in order to ensure that the goals of National Ports Policy are recognised in the planning hierarchy.