The Port of Cork is scaling down its plans for a new container terminal in Ringaskiddy, according to the Irish Examiner.

Officials have announced they are planning to resubmit their planning application for a scaled-down container terminal in Ringaskiddy. A decision would be expected from the planning appeals board by 2013 and, if positive, construction is expected to begin in 2015 with a 2020 completion date.

Port of Cork officials say they hope to submit the planning application under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, meaning the decision will be made by Bord Pleanála, rather than Cork County Council.

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Pre-planning consultations with Bord Pleanála have already begun, with the inclusion of various interest groups around the harbour in the hope of ironing out any problems in advance of submitting the application.

The new plan is significantly scaled back from the proposal put forward two years ago, which at the time focused on building a €220 million container terminal at the Oysterbank in Ringaskiddy. New plans outline the development of the container point in Ringaskiddy on the eastern and western sides of the basin - half the size of the original plan and involving substantially less land reclamation than would have been needed to develop the Oysterbank site. It is envisaged that the entire project will cost in the region of €100m.

The speed of development of the proposed cargo handling at Ringaskiddy will, according to port officials, depend primarily on market needs and will be a much welcome boost to the construction sector.

(HMcE)