Expanded Galway Port marks new opportunity – Kyne / Cruthaíonn leathnú Chuan na Gaillimhe deis nua – Kyne

A positive decision on the expansion of Galway Port would mark a new era for the facility and city, a Fine Gael Senator said.

Senator Seán Kyne, a former Director of Galway Port, and Fine Gael’s candidate in the upcoming Galway West bye-election said the proposed expansion represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise the port and unlock the significant economic and social benefits for Galway.

“I fully support the expansion plans of the port to facilitate larger ships and to free up the inner dock for living, recreation and leisure.

“This project will prepare Galway for the future by creating a more accessible port which is better positioned to support trade, tourism and potential strategic uses such as a naval berth.”

The plans submitted to An Comisiún Pleanála represent a vision for a 21^st century port that no longer relies on a gated harbour model and instead integrates more naturally with the city and its economic ambitions.

The Fine Gael Seanad leader discussed the issue with Tánaiste Simon Harris today on a visit to the constituency.

Senator Kyne highlighted that the funding model for Phase 1 of the development is designed to be largely self-financed.

“The sale of the existing strategic land bank would provide the capital for the first phase.

“This land has the potential to deliver new inner-city housing alongside modern office space, helping to revitalise the city centre and support sustainable urban growth.

“Galway Port is an ambitious, forward-looking plan for its future, and I look forward to its development as a world-class port at the head of Galway Bay,” added Senator Kyne.

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Chuirfeadh cinneadh dearfach maidir le leathnú Chuan na Gaillimhe tús le ré nua don áis agus don chathair, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael san fhothoghchán atá le teacht i nGaillimh Thiar agus iarstiúrthóir ar Chuan na Gaillimhe, gur deis uair sa ghlúin é an leathnú atá beartaithe chun an calafort a nuachóiriú agus buntáistí suntasacha eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta a bhaint amach do Ghaillimh.

“Tacaím go hiomlán le pleananna leathnaithe an chalafoirt chun freastal ar longa níos mó agus chun an duga istigh a shaoradh le haghaidh cónaithe, áineasa agus fóillíochta,” a dúirt sé.

“Ullmhóidh an tionscadal seo Gaillimh don todhchaí trí chalafort níos inrochtana a chruthú atá suite níos fearr chun tacú le trádáil, le turasóireacht agus le húsáidí straitéiseacha féideartha amhail caladh cabhlaigh.”

Léiríonn na pleananna a cuireadh faoi bhráid an Choimisiúin Pleanála fís do chalafort don 21ú haois nach mbraitheann a thuilleadh ar mhúnla cuain faoi gheataí, ach a chomhtháthaíonn níos nádúrtha leis an gcathair agus lena mianta eacnamaíocha.

Phléigh Ceannaire Sheanad Fhine Gael an t-ábhar leis an Tánaiste Simon Harris inniu le linn cuairte ar an dáilcheantar.

Chuir an Seanadóir Kyne i dtábhacht go bhfuil an múnla maoinithe do Chéim 1 den fhorbairt deartha sa chaoi is go mbeadh sé féinmhaoinithe den chuid is mó.

“Is é díol an bhainc talún straitéisigh atá ann faoi láthair a chuirfeadh an caipiteal ar fáil don chéad chéim.

“Tá an poitéinseal ag an talamh seo tithíocht nua i lár na cathrach a sholáthar, in éineacht le spás oifige nua-aimseartha, rud a chabhróidh le lár na cathrach a athbheochan agus a thacóidh le fás uirbeach inbhuanaithe.

“Is plean uaillmhianach, réamhbhreathnaitheach é Cuan na Gaillimhe dá thodhchaí féin, agus táim ag tnúth lena fhorbairt mar chalafort den chéad scoth ag ceann Chuan na Gaillimhe,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne mar fhocal scoir.