Giant cruise ships to dock at Dún Laoghaire after massive harbour plan gets go-ahead
But the company behind the project had campaigned for an even-larger berth.
AN BORD PLEANÁLA has granted permission for a scaled-down plan to build a new harbour and bring cruise liners to Dún Laoghaire in Dublin.
The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) wanted to build a new berth that would accommodate ships of up to 340m in length, but An Board Pleanála has capped the size of vessels at 250m.
The decision was made public today after a process that saw 140 objections on the eight-year project.
Concerns about the development related to increased traffic problems, the visual impact of docked cruise liners and a dredging process that could take up to four months.
Plans for the beefed-up harbour would see dredging take place 24 hours a day for between 14 and 17 weeks, but the applicants said that the noise from the dredging would only be around 60dB – the rough equivalent of talking volume in an office.
DLHC said the plans would mean that about 80% of the cruise ships that currently visit Dublin Bay would be able to dock in Dún Laoghaire.
The company estimates that this could mean two cruise ship visits a week, during peak season, bringing in 2,000 cruise visitors who would spend up to €10 million locally.
Eithne Scott Lennon, chairperson of DLHC, said the development of cruise tourism in Dún Laoghaire will also benefit Irish people who use the harbour:
“In addition to the positive economic impact for the area, the commercial revenue accruing to (the company) will be significant, particularly in the context of the need for us as a company to continually invest in the maintenance and upgrading of the massive infrastructure of the 200-year-old man-made harbour.”
As well as objections by members of the public, An Taisce opposed the plans. It said that,
“the size of these cruise ships berthing in Dún Laoghaire will undoubtedly have an impact on the built heritage and skyline of Dún Laoghaire.”
Other campaigners said they remain committed to opposing the plans. Independent senator Victor Boyhan said he intends to raise the matter in the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.
“It is the inspector’s opinion that the sensitivity of the harbour having regard to its architectural heritage, social importance, recreational value and its proximity to designated sites of European importance were not taken into sufficient consideration by the applicant,” he said.
Written by Rónán Duffy and posted on TheJournal.ie
