The State will invest €4.64 million in upgrading facilities for passengers and cargo at Dublin Port. The funding, earmarked under the National Development Plan, was announced yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
"The funding is being made available to help finance two major marine infrastructure projects at the port which will enhance the speed of turnaround of Ro-Ro vessels at the port," Mr Ahern said,
A spokesman for Dublin Port said the Roll-on/Roll-Off facilities were undergoing substantial renovation and upgrading.
The timing of the announcement was somewhat of a surprise but port authorities said it would improve efficiency at the port.
Part of the money will go to the cost of replacing the original ferry ramp in Dublin Port, which dates back to 1967. The existing single ramp at Berth 51 will be replaced by a two-tier structure.
The new ramp, which will get €1.5 million of the Government funds, will be ready in time for the arrival in service at Dublin of a new Stena vessel.
The balance of the money €3.136 million will go towards the refurbishment of Berth 26, which services P&O vessels plying the Dublin-Mostyn and Dublin-Liverpool routes - a total of four ships a day. It will also see the operation of the Dublin-Cherbourg route during the summer.
The replacement of the existing single deck with a two-tier deck means that the vessels can be loaded in half the current time. The project is expected to be completed in March.
A spokesman for the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) welcomed the latest investment. "The type of business that comes by sea is important because these travellers tend to have their own cars, they go to the regions and they stay in the State longer," said Mr Brendan Leahy, chief executive of the ITIC.
"Anything that can help the car ferry trade would be a good thing."
Forty per cent of tourists to Ireland arrive by sea according to Mr leahy, including many from the key British market which has been the only one to show reasonable growth in the past two years.
The improved facilities should also help hauliers beat the morning city rush-hour.
