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

Gabh mo leithscéal, there was some miscommunication. In the time available, I will confine my comments to matters relating to the constituency and region I represent, which is Cork. Obviously, population growth under a plan such as this requires very substantial population growth in and around Cork city in particular. By 2040 or 2050, the population of the county of Cork will exceed 1 million and the population in and around the metropolitan area of Cork city will increase by more than 125,000. By 2050, that increase could be up to 500,000. That is obviously a significant growth in population. In order to develop that growth, we need to ensure that infrastructure is put in place and that the city is planned in a very strategic way. Public transport is a crucial element of this and I will return to that issue.

Not just in terms of Cork but also in the context of the south and the south west generally, it is enormously important that we encourage infrastructure which does not rely on the hub-and-spoke model under which all roads lead to Dublin. We need to be able to link Cork, Waterford and Limerick. All of those areas need to be in a position to work in concert and to develop as a region. Crucial to that is the delivery of the M20. This project has been talked about for a very long time. There is no doubt that it is a substantial project but I put it to the Minister of State and the Government that, pound for pound, there is not a single road project in the State that has the same potential for economic development and delivery of investment and growth. We also need to see the delivery of the M28. It is a very short distance of road but if it is developed properly, it could unlock the potential of Cork Harbour and Cork's ability to trade with the world.

Obviously, we cannot simply rely on our roads to accommodate that level of population growth. Even if all of the identified road projects are delivered, and we will have to ensure that they are, it will not be possible to accommodate that level of population growth on our roads. We need to invest in public transport. Money has been identified. We need an awful lot more detail because if it is simply invested in traditional bus services in the short term, I would be concerned that it would not deliver the necessary mode change. We need to look at rapid transit bus and at light rail.

As a final point, it is absolutely essential that the feasibility study on light rail takes the long view and focuses not just on the city we have now but, rather, on the one we will have in the future. If it does not take that long view, the outcome of the study could be adverse. We need to take a long view on this issue and on what Cork needs into the future.

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