Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There has been a great deal of talk in recent years, particularly in the past 12 months, about the need for balanced regional development. One of the core areas in the better balancing of population will be Cork, particularly the Cork metropolitan area. I have tabled parliamentary questions before on this matter to the Minister, but I felt it was important to tease out the details with him in the Chamber.

The population growth targeted by Cork City Council and Cork County Council is substantial. A target of 850,000 for the county has been set, with a population of 500,000 in the metropolitan area by 2050. Significant road projects are planned for Cork such as the M28, the Dunkettle interchange upgrade and other similar important projects which need to be delivered. Even when these projects are delivered, however, with such a level of growth in population predicted, if we continue to rely to the extent we do on the car as the main mode of transport in and around Cork city, the roads mentioned will be full again in ten years.

What is needed is a real vision for Cork. No one in Cork expects immediate delivery of light rail or bus rapid transport schemes. What is clear, however, is that such projects take a substantial amount of time to deliver. We propose that the process begin now. The Minister and the Department should express clearly that they are, in principle, in favour of the development of light rail and bus rapid transit schemes in Cork in the interim. The process of planning these projects can then begin. While clearly they would be complex and expensive, they are absolutely essential as the population of the city and surrounding areas will increase enormously in the coming period. The road from Ballincollig to Carrigtwohill, along which the city is developing, is 30 km long. It requires servicing, but to ensure we intensify development within the area, there is a need for quality public transport. To unlock the potential of the enormous docklands area in the middle of the city, it needs to be linked. We do not need thousands of additional cars coming into the city centre from the docklands. We need to have as many of those people as possible coming in by public transport.

This development needs to be phased. In the interim, I would be in favour of the Minister looking at schemes such as a bus rapid transit system. Cork City Council has examined such models in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. In the longer run that is where we need to get to. Cork City Council included such proposals in its submission to the national planning framework process. Cork Chamber of Commerce has also emphasised the issue. Its chief executive, Mr. Conor Healy, recently stated:

What we need to ensure now is that we are planning, that there is early investment going in and that the Government is recognising the need for investment in transport infrastructure in Cork outside of the traditional modes. With the scale of Cork's growth and development, it needs a new form of public transport over the next number of years to ensure we are building properly for the future.

It is that recognition of the need identified that is required at this stage. The initial setting of plans and their development can then occur. I am anxious to hear the Minister's response. This is not just a need in Cork, as Green Party and Labour Party Deputies have also identified similar needs in other cities as part of investing in the shift nationally from the car to greater use of public transport.

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