Dublin Port will reach its full capacity by 2040, its CEO has said.
Mr Eamon O'Reilly said there needs to be "planning today" for additional port infrastructure so Ireland is prepared for when the Port's maximum capacity is reached. A 400 million euro plan to transform Dublin Port is currently at pre-planning stage which will see the Port grow its capacity to 4.1 million trucks and trailers by 2040.
Mr O'Reilly told Newstalk that as Ireland's population grows, the volume of trade going through Dublin Port increases.
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He said: "The numbers reflect the reality that the population in Ireland keeps growing. The stat I quote mostly these days is that the year I was born there was 2.9 million people and now there is 5.1 million. More people means more trade and more trade means more volume through Dublin Port.
"The 400m plan is one of three key infrastructure development projects we need to develop our full masterplan. Two of those, SIDs, we have planning permission for already. One of them is 80% complete and another should start construction this year."
Mr O'Reilly said that the ports in Rosslare, Waterford and Cork will need to have additional capacity built.
“The Port will reach its full capacity - if we get all our projects through planning and constructed - by 2040," he said.
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“So that’s only 18 years away. We need today to be planning the development of additional port infrastructure - not replacement - elsewhere. I think you need the three existing ports of Rosslare, Waterford and Cork - they’re going to have to have additional capacity developed in them to cater for growing demand,” he continued.
“We will not be able to cater for growing demand in Dublin and I think what we should be doing is planning the development of an additional port and hope that we never have to build it."
Commenting on the impact Brexit has had on the Port, Mr O'Reilly said operations are "going remarkably well".
"There's no delays, no queues, nothing like you're seeing in Dover at the moment," he said.
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