Redevelopment of Galway Port will revolutionise the city – Kyne / Réabhlóid don chathair a bheidh in athfhorbairt Phort na Gaillimhe – Kyne

The approval of the expansion for Galway Port is one of the most significant decisions for the city and the west of Ireland, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, a former Director of the Galway Port, and Fine Gael candidate in the Galway West bye-election said, “This is a landmark day for the people of Galway and for the entirety of the west of Ireland.

“The granting of planning permission is something many of us have worked towards for many years, and I’m delighted to finally see it come to fruition. The decision recognises the vital strategic importance of Galway as a port city and opens an enormous chapter of opportunity for our region.”

The decision represents 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.

“An expanded and modernised Galway Port will be transformative for trade, tourism, jobs and connectivity in the west. It will allow Galway to accommodate larger vessels including cruise ships, and together with the approval of the Galway Ring Road it will position our city as a hub in the west of Ireland.

“I want to acknowledge the tremendous work done by the Galway Harbour Company over many years in pursuing this project and I want to thank all those in the community, in business and in local and national Government who supported this vision.

“I am also urging Government to proceed with a review of the National Port Policy, necessary to ensure this project can be part-funded by the State.

“The road to get to this point has been long, but the destination is more than worth it,” concluded Senator Kyne.

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Is cinneadh é faomhadh leathnú Phoirt na Gaillimhe atá ar cheann de na cinntí is suntasaí don chathair agus d’iarthar na hÉireann, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarstiúrthóir ar Phort na Gaillimhe agus iarrthóir de chuid Fhine Gael i bhfothoghchán na Gaillimhe Thiar, “Is lá suntasach é seo do mhuintir na Gaillimhe agus d’iarthar na hÉireann ar fad.

“Is rud é deonú an cheada pleanála a bhfuil go leor againn ag obair i dtreo leis le blianta fada, agus tá an-áthas orm é a fheiceáil ag teacht chun críche faoi dheireadh. Aithníonn an cinneadh an tábhacht straitéiseach ríthábhachtach a bhaineann leis an nGaillimh mar chathair chalafoirt agus osclaíonn sé caibidil ollmhór deiseanna dár réigiún.”

Is ionann an cinneadh seo agus fís do phort san 21ú haois nach mbraitheann níos mó ar mhúnla cuain iata, ach a chomhtháthaíonn ar bhealach níos nádúrtha leis an gcathair agus lena mianta eacnamaíocha.

“Beidh Port na Gaillimhe, agus é leathnaithe agus nuachóirithe, ina údar claochlaithe don trádáil, don turasóireacht, do phoist agus don nascacht san iarthar. Cuirfidh sé ar chumas na Gaillimhe freastal ar shoithí níos mó, longa cúrsála san áireamh, agus in éineacht le faomhadh Bhóthar Cúnta na Gaillimhe, daingneoidh sé ár gcathair mar mhol in iarthar na hÉireann.”

“Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don obair iontach atá déanta ag Comhlacht Chuan na Gaillimhe thar na blianta fada agus an tionscadal seo á chur chun cinn acu, agus ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leo siúd go léir sa phobal, sa ghnó agus sa Rialtas áitiúil agus náisiúnta a thacaigh leis an bhfís seo.

“Tá mé ag tathant ar an Rialtas freisin dul ar aghaidh le hathbhreithniú ar an bPolasaí Náisiúnta Calafoirt, atá riachtanach lena chinntiú gur féidir leis an Stát an tionscadal seo a pháirtmhaoiniú.”

“Ba bhóthar fada é chun an pointe seo a bhaint amach, ach is fiú go mór é an ceann scríbe,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne mar fhocal scoir.