The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, today (Monday 22nd May), welcomed the Contract Award to commence work on the essential upgrade of Terminal 7 at Rosslare Europort.
These upgrade works are necessary to provide permanent Brexit infrastructure at Rosslare Europort to ensure compliance with EU Customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and official food controls legislation, thereby providing protection for the EU single market.
Following a competitive tender process, John Paul Construction have now been awarded the contract and work will shortly commence on site.
Minister Donohoe said:
"I am delighted that the contract has been awarded for this vital project and that the work can now begin. I would like to congratulate John Paul Construction on their winning tender for the Rosslare Europort upgrade works.
"I would like to thank the Office of Public Works for their work on getting the Rosslare project to this important stage. I would also like to acknowledge all the other departments and agencies, including officials from my own Department, who have worked closely with the OPW to reach this exciting milestone.
"The upgrade works at Rosslare Europort will allow Ireland to manage the new requirements for checks and controls on trade with the UK. The development works will greatly benefit Rosslare and the South East by facilitating trade and further job creation.
"I look forward to seeing the progress on site over the period ahead".
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., added:
“I welcome the contract award today which marks the start to the important next phase at Rosslare Europort. The OPW is very proud to have been a central part of the government’s Brexit infrastructure project to make Ireland Brexit-ready by the end of 2020, and this announcement today is a great example of how government departments continue to work together to develop the permanent infrastructure required for a new border control post and improved processing facilities at one of our largest and busiest ports in the country.”
The Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath said:
“I very much welcome the awarding of the contract for this very important project for the South East. This infrastructure gives us the ability to manage the new trading arrangements with the United Kingdom and will give the Revenue Commissioners the ability to effectively carry out their customs operations in a modern and fit for purpose facility.”
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said:
“I welcome the progress on this really important development at Rosslare Europort. The Government is moving at pace to deliver this project. This is a critical piece of infrastructure which will provide the necessary systems to support the carrying out of EU import controls on agri-food products from the UK as required following its departure from the EU. My Department will continue to closely collaborate with other Departments and agencies including Revenue and the OPW on the project."
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said:
“I welcome the awarding of this contract and the commencement of work on this critical infrastructure project which will provide the necessary permanent facilities at Rosslare Europort to ensure compliance with Customs, Sanitary & Phytosanitary and Official Food Control requirements.
“Officials in my Department along with the HSE’s Environmental Health Service have been working closely with other Government Departments and agencies to ensure the enhanced facilities at Rosslare will continue to safeguard the EU Single Market and that Ireland has a robust food safety system in place which maintains public health.”
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne, said:
“I am delighted to see this significant investment into Rosslare Europort, which will, amongst many other things, deliver new immigration facilities for An Garda Síochána at the Port. This will be of significant benefit for the State in ensuring the integrity of our immigration system, but will also improve the experience of both Gardaí and personnel working at the Port and also the public who pass through the Port. Rosslare is one of the busiest ports in Ireland and welcomes both international freight and passengers and this investment will be important in building on the already fantastic reputation of Rosslare and its Port at home and abroad.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
The upgrade works at Rosslare, will include the redevelopment of the existing site and the demolition of a number of existing buildings to facilitate the construction of a new border control post (BCP) consisting of a number of new buildings and associated external site infrastructure.
The Terminal 7 facility will facilitate the processing and exit routes from the passenger and freight ferries that use Rosslare Europort.
Background: Temporary facilities at Kilrane
Due to the short timeframe available to provide facilities in advance of the first potential Brexit date of 29 March 2019, the infrastructure developed at Kilrane, some 1.3 kilometres outside the Port, was put in place as a temporary solution pending the development of permanent infrastructure. This approach ensured that customs and SPS checks and controls could be undertaken on UK goods traffic from the end of March 2019. During 2019 and 2020 enhancements were made to the temporary facilities in Kilrane. At the same time, the OPW advanced the detailed design of a permanent solution within Rosslare Europort in conjunction with the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Health/HSE and planning permission was secured in November 2021.
Compliance with the Union Customs Code (UCC) remains a key driver for the need for permanent infrastructure within the Port. The proposed upgrade works will deliver a UCC and Official Controls compliant solution, with the capacity to deal with the volume of vehicles, examination bays, inspection and storage rooms that meet the EU legislative requirements.