Waterford needs millions to develop ‘joke’ port
It described its facilities as “a joke” and said major investment is needed at the site. Port of Waterford Company chief executive Stan McIlvenny says the port could move tomorrow to expand its infrastructure at Belview, provided it received this vital seed funding from the Government.
Mr McIlvenny said the Port of Waterford needed seed capital because the costs of the infrastructure were so high.
He said the paradox was that an ailing industry like the fishing industry had access to tens of millions of euro through the Department of Marine, while such funding was not available to the successful ports sector.
The pressing need to expand Belview Port was highlighted at the launch by Brian Cunningham of the South East Port Users Service, a stevedoring company operating at Belview.
He said the Port of Waterford could not continue to survive by operating with just a 200 metre jetty. “It’s becoming a joke,” he said.
Minister Cullen responded it would be difficult to persuade Department of Finance officials to give the ports money when you look at the volume of traffic going through them.
He also pointed out that many people would say the Government would be better off putting €50 million into local hospitals.
He understood some of the department’s perspective but he believed the return on any government investment in the ports would be very good and that the State needed to look at the issue in a more realistic way.
The Port of Waterford wasn’t the only port authority to call for more government investments in improving port facilities.
Michael Murphy of Rosslare Port cited the need for Rosslare Port to be deepened and widened to cater for the bigger ships being built, and called for the country’s ports to be allocated funding in the National Development Plan.
