Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
263. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the Dublin Port 3FM infrastructure expansion project; and if he will confirm the level of engagement Dublin Port has had with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Dublin City Council (DCC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Transport Authority (NTA) with regards to the 3FM project. [3034/26]
View answerMy Department maintains strong communication channels with State-owned commercial ports at all times, and I am kept well informed on all matters, including infrastructural developments such as Dublin Port Company’s (DPC) Masterplan 2040.
DPC's core mandate is to facilitate international trade. It accounts for approximately 50% of all freight through Irish ports, with approximately €165 billion worth of imports and exports and 1.6 million ferry passengers using the port in 2024. DPC operates with a total of 265 hectares at its disposal and limited berth space to handle more than 15,000 vessel movements each year. It is already experiencing capacity pinch points, which its Masterplan 2040 aims to address to ensure the port stays ahead of projected demand.
DPC’s third and final Masterplan project, also known as the 3FM Project, involves the development of port lands on the Poolbeg Peninsula. It also includes the construction of a new bridge across the Liffey to provide a Southern Port Access Route for port-related HGV traffic. The 3FM Project will contribute significantly to the provision of active transport options in the vicinity of Dublin Port. It is proposed that a new Maritime Village and enhanced public and community amenities will be provided, along with 5.5 km of cycle and pedestrian routes across the Poolbeg Peninsula. DPC lodged its planning application for the 3FM Project with An Coimisiún Pleanála on 22 July 2024, and a planning decision is awaited. This is a project of strategic significance for the State by providing essential infrastructure required for international trade.
I am advised that DPC consulted very extensively with stakeholders in relation to the 3FM Project, undertaking detailed non-statutory engagement along with a robust statutory process. In this regard, DPC’s final design proposal contained within the planning application for the 3FM project reflects extensive public consultation and collaboration with stakeholders, including the port’s local community, customers, public representatives, State agencies, Government departments, and a wide range of public bodies to balance a range of commercial, community, heritage, and sustainability considerations. Included within this was extensive engagement with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Dublin City Council.
