Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is starting. You cannot get more Cork than the South Mall and MacCurtain Street, both of which are starting to create a better public environment for active travel and also BusConnects. However, we need to do much more. I recognise this is difficult. I mentioned Deansgrange and Strand Road, where we had difficulties. The Wilton Road on Cork is another example of the precursor of the light rail route. I understand exactly why the residents there were concerned and why it could not be got through the council in the first place. We need to look at what has worked in Dublin with some of the public consultation on BusConnects. We willing to use concepts like bus gates, one-way systems and reducing and holding back traffic to provide the safe space for public transport. I see the first key BusConnects route in Cork as going from Mahon and the docklands, through the city centre and out the Western Road. Whether it goes via the Wilton Road or straight out to Ballincollig is the sort of detail that can be worked out, but the route needs to be built quickly. That may require us to say we are going to restrict traffic, but we are going to provide a world-class public transport system and a better cycling system. That is a decision for the city of Cork and for those transport offices like the NTA. The prize, if we can deliver it and we get the demand and the housing close to it, is that this sort of route can be upgraded to light rail. Meanwhile, the Senator will know the BusConnects project for Cork is out for consultation at the moment.