Dublin Port Company recently published the latest version of their 3FM expansion plan.  I have been critical of the current plan for the following reasons:

• Growth: The proposal to double the capacity of the port by 2040 is excessive. At a time when we are reducing our need to import fossil fuel and moving towards a circular economy, it is difficult to understand why traffic will double in the next 17 years.

• Housing: There are 3 potential Dublin Port sites that I believe should be used for housing: These sites are close to the city centre and could provide up to 1,200 social, affordable and cost rental homes.

• Transport: The plan is too focused on road haulage with no new priority for rail freight. While the SPAR Route, or new South Port Access Route planned by Dublin Port Company, will take trucks off Strand Road, it will force an additional 1 million trucks per year along Pigeon House Road and onto an already gridlocked M50. As Minister for Transport, I want to see the option of extending rail lines onto the south port so we can develop low carbon port solutions.

• Nature: The proposal to use the 8 hectare site between the Bissets engineering and the waste to energy plant as a place to store freight containers is not ideal. I believe the best use would be to extend the nature reserve into this site, along with the proposed playing pitches, as a genuine gain for both people and nature.

• Climate: I don’t believe the proposal aligns with national climate policy and legislation. Ireland must achieve a significant modal shift in transport if we are to achieve our emissions reduction targets and this must include haulage. The current proposal is not a sustainable solution for the future.