Michael McGrath TD, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, has this week updated the Government on the continuing work to enhance the facilities for checks and controls in place at our ports and airports as a consequence of Brexit, including plans for a new state of the art Border Control Post in Rosslare Europort.
Minister McGrath said:
“As a consequence of Brexit, substantial physical infrastructure has been put in place at Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort and Dublin Airport to ensure Ireland can effectively manage the new requirements for checks and controls on trade with the UK as a consequence of Brexit. This has been one of the most critical and visible aspects of the Government’s preparations for Brexit.”
The Minister said that work coordinated by his Department has been underway since 2018, with the infrastructure required being developed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and the HSE. Significant infrastructure was in place at all three locations at the end of the Brexit Transition Period and has been operational since 1 January 2021. It is expected that a public tender for work on the project will issue in Q1 2022 with work commencing on site before the middle of the year.
“The approach taken has been driven by the twin objectives of ensuring that appropriate checks and controls can take place while at the same time allowing trade to continue to flow. It is essential to ensure Ireland continues to meet its obligations under the EU’s Single Market.
"At this week’s Cabinet meeting I briefed the Government on plans being developed by the Office of Public Works in collaboration with the State agencies for a multi-million Euro facility in Rosslare that will enhance the facilities already in place and ensure East West trade can continue through the Port, along with other exciting opportunities being developed for Rosslare and the South East.”
The Minister said that EU funding for the new infrastructure would be available from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
“Ireland will receive just over €1 billion of funding from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, the biggest single allocation for any Member State, representing just over 20 percent of the total fund. The Brexit Adjustment Reserve represents an important response by the European Union to the challenges posed by the UK’s departure from the EU.”
The Minister said he was pleased by the recent announcement by EU Commissioner Elisa Ferreira that the European Commission had approved the first €362 million tranche of funding for Ireland, the first Member State to receive such approval.
“As the Member State most impacted by Brexit, we will use this funding to help counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit in areas such as enterprise supports; supports for the fisheries and agri-food sectors, reskilling and retraining; and checks and controls at our ports and airports.”