Crazy to expand Cork Port while spare capacity exists elsewhere

The Port of Cork Company has been granted planning by An Bord Pleanála for a container terminal at Ringaskiddy, despite senior inspectors having advised rejection of permission. Following rejection of their application in 2008, due to inadequate roads and no rail facilities, Port of Cork nevertheless proceeded with a container facility at Ringaskiddy in 2012.

Once again, we hear the old mantra about container ships getting bigger, and Port of Cork losing trade in consequence. This is untrue. The ships that supply Cork also service the other Irish ports. Like Cork, these ports have similar tidal constraints. Ultimately, the depth of the Kiel Canal dictates the size of ships which service the European ports. We are a small country, with a low level of trade in comparison with the mainland. Ringaskiddy can never be a Ten-T, Tier-1 Port. It does not have the vital rail connectivity and has a road infrastructure that is inferior to north and east Munster’s.

There have been no transport infrastructural improvements which would warrant a change in planning policy.

The Port of Waterford is to be congratulated on their application for a judicial review of this decision, which has been taken by An Bord Pleanála.

Waterford has both rail and an excellent road network, all within 70 miles of Cork City.

From the taxpayer’s perspective, we need an improved N28 to service the needs of south Cork residents, but not a €100m motorway extravaganza, built, most likely by a foreign construction company, to flatter the egos of local politicians and the members of semi-state boards of management.

One over-priced white elephant at Cork Airport should be enough to prove that the provision of facilities does not necessarily drive commercial expansion.

In this small country, it is crazy to have one port company installing new facilities at the taxpayer’s expense while spare capacity exists elsewhere. Container-port facilities should be provided only when absolutely necessary, since, by their nature, they are detrimental to the environment, and Cork Harbour contains a nature reserve and has amenity and residential areas.

We support the Port of Waterford in their justified application, which is to be taken before the High Court on November 10, and commend them for having the fortitude to stave off an undoubted deluge of Cork political criticism.

Don Teegan

Honorary Secretary Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association c/o Beech Lodge, Monkstown, Co Cork