Minister O’Donovan attends sod-turning event to mark official commencement of major €166 million project for Rosslare Europort

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, was in Rosslare Europort today (12 October 2023) to mark the commencement of works for Rosslare Europort Terminal 7 and enabling works.

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, the Office of Public Works (OPW) awarded John Paul Construction the contract and work has commenced on site.

Speaking in Rosslare today, Minister O’Donovan said:

“I am delighted to see that works have commenced on site now for this critically important State infrastructure in Rosslare Europort. The size of this project is vast – 28 new permanent buildings – and will provide 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 OPW has worked very closely with all State agencies and the Port Authority, Iarnród Éireann, to bring this project to this important milestone. Rosslare Europort continues to operate as a live operational port and the OPW, together with main contractor John Paul Construction are working closely and collaboratively with the port authorities to ensure that this immense construction project will proceed in tandem with the busy operations of Rosslare.”

Liam Kenny, Managing Director at John Paul Construction said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the contract for the Upgrade of Terminal 7 at Rosslare Europort in Wexford. This is not just a significant project for John Paul Construction, but for Ireland as a whole, given the role the upgraded port will play in a post Brexit euro economy. We look forward to working collaboratively with the OPW, the Port Authorities, and our local supply chain to deliver this nationally and regionally important infrastructure project.”

Minister O’Donovan concluded:

“Not only will this multi-million investment by the government provide all the necessary facilities for Revenue, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Health/HSE and the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána, it will also greatly assist in the development of Rosslare and the wider South-East region. I look forward to seeing the project develop in the months ahead.”

Official photographs of the sod-turning event will be available from Mary Browne Photography brownesphotography@me.com

For more information or to arrange an interview opportunity, please contact the OPW Press Office at pressoffice@opw.ie

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Notes

The Rosslare Europort Terminal 7 and Enabling Works project will see a new terminal built and a new Border Control Post set up. Works will include the demolition of existing buildings and construction of 28 new permanent buildings totalling circa 9,361 m2.

These buildings include facilities for a range of activities such as An Garda Síochána Immigration facility, a Revenue Enforcement and Stopping Area, live animal inspection facilities for equine and domestic pets, checks on animal products, regulated plant products and foods of non-animal origin entering the Union. There will also be a new main access road, a roundabout, internal road and freight entrance plaza along with significant hard-standing and truck-set/car-storage facilities to be constructed.

The Terminal 7 facility will facilitate the processing and exit routes from the passenger and freight ferries that use Rosslare Europort. The construction works will cost approximately €166 million.

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 OPW developed infrastructure at Kilrane – some 1.3 kilometres outside the Port – for the State 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, the OPW enhanced 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 Rosslare Europort. The 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.