Rosslare Europort - Offshore Renewable Energy Hub
Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) – Irish Rail has submitted a planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) for the development of a dedicated Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub at Rosslare Europort.
This major strategic development is proposed to support the construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms planned for the Irish and Celtic Seas.
Ariel View of the proposed Rosslare Europort ORE Hub
The Rosslare ORE Hub planning submission including documentation and drawings, the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), can be viewed or downloaded at the following location:
Public Consultation
A formal public consultation period takes place from 17th of December 2025 to 24th of February 2026. Members of the public can view all planning application documents and make submissions to An Coimisiún Pleanála during this time.
Submissions may be made to An Coimisiún Pleanála in writing or online. Further details on how to make a submission or observation are set out in the statutory public notices or can be found on the Coimisiún’s website www.pleanala.ie.
Project Overview
The Rosslare ORE Hub will provide a facility for the efficient handling and storage, marshalling, staging and integration of ORE components to facilitate the installation of offshore wind energy projects.
Rosslare’s strategic position offers exceptional proximity advantages for ORE operations, located approximately 30 to 100 nautical miles from the planned Phase 1 Irish Sea projects and within 50 nautical miles of proposed developments in the Celtic Sea.
The Rosslare ORE Hub will provide critical national infrastructure by enabling the delivery of large-scale offshore wind projects, which are an essential component of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF). The development also includes new facilities to support local marine activity, including small boat users, fishers and community organisations such as the Sea Scouts.
The Proposed Development Site
The site is immediately adjacent and to the northwest of Rosslare Europort at Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford.
The Project Development Boundary encompasses a total area of 80.3 hectares, lying mostly in the maritime area and comprising 48.4 hectares of capital dredging area, 27.7 hectares of reclamation from the sea, and 4.2 hectares of terrestrial reclamation and existing land area.
Key Project Elements
- Capital Dredging: The navigation channel will be dredged to a depth of -10 metres Chart Datum (m CD). The berth pocket for ORE Berth 1 will be dredged to a depth of -12 m CD. The total area to be dredged is 48.4 hectares.
- Land Reclamation: Land reclamation including infilling of the small boat harbour, using the marine dredged material and imported rockfill to create 27.7 hectares of land for the proposed development.
- ORE Storage Area: Creation of an ORE Storage Area of 19.7 hectares within the reclaimed lands for the handling and storage, marshalling, staging and integration of ORE components.
- ORE Berth 1: Construction of ORE Berth 1, a heavy lift berth with a continuous open piled quay length of 330 metres.
- ORE Berth 2: Construction of ORE Berth 2, with a continuous open piled quay length of 240 metres.
- ORE Compound: A compound area of 0.2 hectares for installation of modular buildings for site offices, welfare, logistics, and parking to service ORE developers.
New Small Boat Harbour:
Construction of a new small boat harbour consisting of:
- a 50 metre long fixed quayside berth and an 80 metre long floating pontoon,
- a 2.4-metre-wide pontoon to provide 64 no. berths,
- a 127-metre-long floating pontoon with 10 no. berths,
- 1 no. fixed berth for emergency service vessels,
- 10 no. single storey storage sheds,
- a slipway for launching and recovery activities,
- marine enabling works and installation of services to provide for potential future uses.
- Slipway & Sea Scouts Facility:
Construction of a slipway to the western flank of the newly reclaimed lands with a new storage shed and parking to accommodate local clubs, such as the Sea Scouts.
Ancillary works:
- Site access to the ORE Hub from the existing port access road;
- New access road and footpath/cycle track to the new small boat harbour;
- A medium voltage single storey electrical substation and switch room;
- Lighting;
- Fencing and security;
- Parking;
- Waste-management facilities;
- Fire-water network and storage;
- Landscaping;
- Foul-water network and pumping infrastructure;
- Water-mains network;
- Surfacing and drainage;
- Environmental enhancements.
Proposed Rosslare Europort ORE Hub (seaward aerial view)
Proposed Rosslare Europort ORE Hub (landward aerial view)
Proposed New Small Boat Harbour (seaward aerial view)
Proposed New Small Boat Harbour (landward aerial view)
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